Wrexham suffered a double gut punch as Southampton struck twice late on for a dramatic 2-1 victory at St Marys. Josh Windass put Wrexham ahead on their return to the second tier of English football after a 43-year absence, converting a 22nd-minute penalty when fellow summer recruit Kieffer Moore was fouled.
Southampton – two divisions higher than Wrexham last season – pushed furiously throughout for reward, but they were fast running out of time when substitute Ryan Manning dispatched a superb 90th-minute free-kick.
All you need to know – Streaming Sky Sports with NOW | Get Sky SportsDownload the Sky Sports App to watch every Sky Sports+ gameSaints were not done, though, as Manning burst down the left in the sixth minute of added time to deliver a cross that Jack Stephens lashed in off the crossbar at the back post and floor the club owned by Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
This was the first league meeting between the two sides for 65 years and a tale of two very different managers. Southampton boss Will Still – the youngest manager in the Championship at 32 – was in charge of his first game in English football after working in Belgium and France.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, who began his career at Southampton before being released without making a single appearance, is the oldest manager in the division and has over 1,000 games under his belt and three successive promotions on his CV.
There was no Tyler Dibling in the Saints squad with the teenage winger linked to Premier League clubs as Parkinson handed debuts to six of his eight summer signings. Windass and Conor Coady had shooting opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes after Ryan Fraser had home fans off their seats inside 45 seconds by curling wide.
Chances came thick and fast as Saints wing-back Welington fired into the side netting and Windass clattered the crossbar from 25 yards after being set free by Moore. Wrexham went ahead after 22 minutes as Moore broke through before being blatantly pushed in the back by Ronnie Edwards.
Parkinson might have wondered why there was no red card to accompany the spot-kick, but Windass coolly converted the penalty. Lewis Brunt spurned a free header to double the lead and a pulsating contest saw Parkinson join his defender Max Cleworth in referee James Bells notebook.
Saints finished the half strongly and Wrexham were fortunate to stay ahead as Adam Armstrongs shot on the turn went straight at Danny Ward. The Wales goalkeepers shoulder kept out Fraser and the increasingly influential Jay Robinson stretched to turn the ball against the far post with Coady twice denying Armstrong profiting from the rebound.
Saints maintained the pressure at the start of the second half and Cleworth escaped sanction after his outstretched arm blocked Shea Charles effort in the penalty area. Wrexham lost Moore after he was injured in the act of shooting and Saints continued to press, with substitute Mateus Fernandes shot lacking the power to trouble Ward.
The Red Dragons wanted a second penalty when Lewis OBrien went down after Stephens placed an arm on his shoulder, and Ryan Hardies failure to beat Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu one-on-one proved costly.
The managersSouthamptons Will Still: It was crazy. We created some really big opportunities in the first half and in the second half we took control. We said everyones important and got to play a role.
The subs have done that and shown how strong our squad is. Good to show a bit of grit and determination. To bring the energy and place alive which probably helped us bundle the ball over the line is good.
Wrexhams Phil Parkinson: He was clean through and he gets pushed down for the penalty. Ive spoken to the ref and said, Look, my interpretation of that rule is if its an intentional push its a straight red.
I saw it from the touchline and the footage again at half-time. I cant see how hes not got that right because its a game-changing moment as theyre down to 10 men. I know the ref feels theres a covering defender.
But if youre about to strike the ball on goal where he was on the pitch, and the player intentionally pushes you to the ground, the refs got to make that call right. I think when we reflect, its a very proud day for the club playing at this level and there was a lot of positives for us.
The new lads came in and have done really well but the existing players as well, I thought they were really good. That gives us great heart for the season ahead.
