Southampton 2 Wrexham 1: Ryan Reynolds’ men heartbroken after first Championship clash as they concede two late goals

WREXHAM were rocked by two late goals as Will Still’s Southampton came back to win their Championship season opener.

A Josh Windass opener was cancelled out by two Saints goals after the 90th minute at St Mary’s to spoil Wrexham’s party.

Wrexham were brutally denied a point late on in their Championship debut against SouthamptonCredit: Reuters

Ryan Manning gave the Saints their breakthrough with his stunning free-kickCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

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.

Saints 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.

Visiting stars 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.

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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.

Josh Windass notched Wrexham’s opener from the spot, slotting beyond the fingertips of keeper Gavin BazunuCredit: Reuters

Wrexham fans rejoiced as their Premier League push got off to a flying start in the first halfCredit: PAParkinson 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 Bell’s notebook.

Saints finished the half strongly and Wrexham were fortunate to stay ahead as Adam Armstrong’s shot on the turn went straight at Danny Ward.

The Wales goalkeeper’s 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.

Manning’s free-kick equaliser broke the travelling fan’s heartsCredit: Getty

Captain Jack Stephens bagged all three points for his side as he thumped home from the back postCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe Red Dragons wanted a second penalty when Lewis O’Brien went down after Stephens placed an arm on his shoulder, and Ryan Hardie’s failure to beat Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu one-on-one proved costly.

They were punished for this wastefulness by a peach of a free-kick from Manning, curling into the top corner from range for the equaliser, and breaking Welsh hearts in the process.

The party in the stands had barely stopped when Stephens latched onto a loose ball at the back post, and somehow squeezed his snap shot in off the underside of the bar in the 96th minute.

There was barely any time for Wrexham to reply, and they fell to a loss on the opening day.

Wrexham have enjoyed a meteoric rise up the ranks since being taken over by Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenny in 2020.

The then-National League side have enjoyed three consecutive promotions to reach the Championship, but their charge for a fourth has now gotten off to a poor start.