Wrexham’s highly anticipated return to the EFL Championship ended in disappointment after a 2-1 loss to Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium. The Red Dragons had taken a 1-0 lead through Josh Windass’s penalty in the 22nd minute, but Ryan Manning’s stunning free kick equalized in the 89th minute.
The match slipped away for Wrexham as Jack Stephens scored the winner from close range in the 96th minute. Southampton dominated possession and shots on target, completing over three times as many passes as Wrexham. The Red Dragons’ poor performance will be punished in the Championship.
Wrexham faces a chance to redeem themselves next weekend when they host West Brom on August 16, but first, they must navigate an EFL Cup bout with Hull City on August 12.
Source: https://www.si.com/soccer/wrexham-collapse-efl-championship-return-43-years