Wrexham suffered a double intestine punch as Southampton struck twice late on for a dramatic 2-1 victory at St Mary’s.
Josh Windass put Wrexham forward on their return to the second tier of English soccer after a 43-year absence, changing a Twenty second-minute penalty when fellow summer season recruit Kieffer Moore was fouled.
Southampton — two divisions larger than Wrexham final season — pushed furiously all through for reward, however they had been quick operating out of time when substitute Ryan Manning dispatched an outstanding Ninetieth-minute free-kick.
Saints weren’t accomplished, although, as Manning burst down the left within the sixth minute of added time to ship a cross that Jack Stephens lashed in off the crossbar on the again submit and flooring the membership owned by Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
This was the primary league assembly between the 2 sides for 65 years and a story of two very completely different managers.
Southampton boss Will Nonetheless — the youngest supervisor within the Championship at 32 — was accountable for his first recreation in English soccer after working in Belgium and France.
Wrexham supervisor Phil Parkinson, who started his profession at Southampton earlier than being launched with out making a single look, is the oldest supervisor within the division and has over 1,000 video games below his belt and three successive promotions on his CV.
There was no Tyler Dibling within the Saints squad with the teenage winger linked to Premier League golf equipment as Parkinson handed debuts to 6 of his eight summer season signings.
Windass and Conor Coady had taking pictures alternatives contained in the opening 10 minutes after Ryan Fraser had house followers off their seats inside 45 seconds by curling large.
Probabilities got here thick and quick as Saints wing-back Welington fired into the aspect netting and Windass clattered the crossbar from 25 yards after being let loose by Moore.
Wrexham went forward after 22 minutes as Moore broke by way of earlier than being blatantly pushed within the again by Ronnie Edwards.
Parkinson may need puzzled why there was no purple card to accompany the spot-kick, however Windass coolly transformed the penalty.
Lewis Brunt spurned a free header to double the lead and a pulsating contest noticed Parkinson be part of his defender Max Cleworth in referee James Bell’s pocket book.
Saints completed the half strongly and Wrexham had been lucky to remain forward as Adam Armstrong’s shot on the flip went straight at Danny Ward.
The Wales goalkeeper’s shoulder stored out Fraser and the more and more influential Jay Robinson stretched to show the ball in opposition to the far submit with Coady twice denying Armstrong making the most of the rebound.
Saints maintained the stress initially of the second half and Cleworth escaped sanction after his outstretched arm blocked Shea Charles’ effort within the penalty space.
Wrexham misplaced Moore after he was injured within the act of taking pictures and Saints continued to press, with substitute Mateus Fernandes’ shot missing the facility to hassle Ward.
The Purple Dragons wished a second penalty when Lewis O’Brien went down after Stephens positioned an arm on his shoulder, and Ryan Hardie’s failure to beat Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu one-on-one proved expensive.