Southampton produced a famous fightback at St. Mary’s to send the tie to a replay. A victory over Wrexham 2-1 was a dream start to their first season in the Championship. The Peacocks game became the official record of Wrexham’s return to the second tier of English football, ending a 43-year wait. It would be Wrexham’s first goal, coming in the 22nd minute, thanks to Josh Windass. He scored his first goal by converting a penalty when Ronnie Edwards brought down Kieffer Moore. Southampton’s Ryan Manning curled in a spectacular free-kick to level the match just before the whistle. Then, deep into stoppage time, the home side added the icing to their cake.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, who has over 1,000 games of managerial experience, was eager to secure a positive result against Southampton. Parkinson, famous for his record three consecutive promotions, faced off against Will Still, the youngest ever manager in the Championship. At just 32 years of age, Still was managing his first match at any level in English football. The cup tie drew attention to the contrasting fortunes of both managers. After joining the professional ranks with Southampton, Parkinson was released before ever making an appearance.
A Promising Start for Wrexham
The game started with a real buzz in the air as Wrexham looked to make an impression on their return to the Championship. In the 22nd minute, Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore exploded through Southampton’s backline. Ronnie Edwards then shoved him to the ground, leading to a Wrexham penalty. Wrexham man Josh Windass took responsibility and coolly slotted the penalty home to give Wrexham a 1-0 advantage.
Even with the lead, Wrexham found it hard to build on their momentum. Epsom guard Lewis Brunt had a golden opportunity to double their lead. Sadly, he squandered it by rejecting a clear cut chance on a free header shortly afterward. Even though they were missing clear opportunities, Wrexham continued to be at risk as Southampton pushed to draw level.
Southampton displayed relentless determination throughout the match. After falling behind, they pushed furiously for an equalizer but found themselves running out of time as the clock wound down. Head Coach Will Still lauded his side’s character to respond after conceding a quick-fire goal.
“He was clean through and he gets pushed down for the penalty. I’ve spoken to the ref and said, ‘Look, my interpretation of that rule is if it’s an intentional push it’s a straight red.’” – Phil Parkinson
Southampton’s Resilience
As the match ticked towards its closing minutes generally Southampton’s pressure on the Young Boys backline was rewarded. Then, in the 90th minute, Ryan Manning curled in a beautiful free-kick from just outside the box to bring his side level. He hit it sweetly though, making it 1-1. Pittsburgh’s goal lit the proverbial fire under the home fans. They knew that a revival might be right around the corner.
“It was crazy. We created some really big opportunities in the first half and in the second half we took control.” – Will Still
As the match approached its final minutes, Southampton’s persistence finally paid off. In the 90th minute, Ryan Manning struck a superb free-kick from just outside the box, leveling the score at 1-1. This goal ignited a wave of energy among the home fans, who sensed that a comeback might be on the horizon.
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