Southampton cheekily taunt Wrexham after the Saints produce a stunning late turnaround to win their Championship opener.
Wrexham took the lead with a Josh Windass penalty after Kieffer Moore was fouled, celebrating their first second-tier goal since 1982.
Despite Wrexham’s strong first half and missed chances, Southampton equalised in the 90th minute with a stunning Ryan Manning free-kick.
Manning then set up Jack Stephens for the winning goal in the 96th minute, sparking wild celebrations at St Mary’s.
Both teams felt hard done by referee James Bell’s decisions, with contentious penalty calls and bookings adding to the match’s intensity.
After the game, Southampton tweeted in response to a tweet back by @wrexhampolicefc, who predicted Wrexham to beat Southampton…
🤭 https://t.co/L3IZ6Rp9cj pic.twitter.com/qudcjIxYmz
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 9, 2025
We had a shake of the @SouthamptonFC ‘Mystic Saints Ball’ and this is what it predicted! #WxmAFC #UpTheTown @Wrexham_AFC pic.twitter.com/BgJ6ki42Uu
— Wrexham Police FC (@wrexhampolicefc) July 1, 2025
A HOLLYWOOD FINISH 😘
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 9, 2025
Oh, Wrexham 😳 pic.twitter.com/x6gkruaA4m
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 9, 2025
Josh Windass from the spot! 🎯
Wrexham have their first goal in the second tier in 43 years 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mlA8Sx8BuC
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 9, 2025
Ryan Manning, TAKE A BOW! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VaBKKW5H8L
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 9, 2025
JACK 👏 STEPHENS 👏 pic.twitter.com/HdBoaheeC9
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 9, 2025
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Jack Stephens and Ryan Manning react to Southampton’s INCREDIBLE late win over Wrexham 👏 pic.twitter.com/rQ1fY7m2V4
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 9, 2025
“I couldn’t have had a better introduction than that!”
Southampton boss Will Still reacts to his side’s dramatic victory over Wrexham 👊 pic.twitter.com/dmFyC4HLFC
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 9, 2025
Line-ups
Southampton: Bazunu, Edwards (Stewart 80), Stephens, Quarshie, Sugawara, Downes (Archer 72), Charles, Welington (Manning 72), Fraser, Robinson, Armstrong
Subs: McCarthy, Wood, Brereton-Diaz, Matsuki
Wrexham AFC: Ward, Cleworth, Coady, Brunt, Barnett (Longman 71), Dobson, M.James, O’Brien, Cacace (McClean 84), Windass (Hardie 71), Moore (Smith 54)
Subs: Okonkwo, O’Connell, Evans, Lee, Ashfield
Referee: James Bell
Attendance: 30,970
Bookings:
Southampton:
Wrexham: Cleworth (24, foul), Phil Parkinson (31), McClean (90+1, foul)
@FRead07: Not just his free kick but Manning was putting dangerous balls in as soon as he came on. Deserved that goal 🐐 #Saintsfc
@SFCforever1989: The Will Still late show!! 🙌 Great grit and determination. Baz with top save to keep us in it so fair play to him. Never gave up!! @SouthamptonFC #saintsfc
@Roro84: Let this be a lesson in being a sports fan. NEVER. LEAVE. EARLY. #saintsfc
@josh_burridge: What a Hollywood ending! #SaintsFC
@GM1872_: James McClean. Comes on at 1-0 up. Gets booked and they lose 2-1 🤣🤣 fucking superb 🇬🇧
@coplandrear4: Wrexham 1-0 up and relatively cruising it. James McClean introduced with 5 minutes to go, takes the captain’s armband, gets booked and then instrumental in leading his team to a 2-1 defeat. Great start to a Saturday 😂
@JordanWebber96: Welcome to the Championship, Wrexham.
@IvoPintoGood: 23 championship clubs loved that
@ctsmclovinya: ELITE response. On the pitch and off it 👏
@mztty: Hahahaha this is brilliant. So happy for you guys. I will support every club placing Wrexham this season. Today’s your day
@tlhsfc: Inject those Hollywood tears in my veins
@SFCTom123: Ryan Reynolds stick that on your tinpot fucking documentary UP THE BOYS #SaintsFc
@robbinho_3: Never in doubt 😅😅😅. Fair play to the lads to keep plugging away and not losing faith like I was starting to. Unbelievable free-kick from Manning. Brilliant win and so crucial to start with three points #saintsfc
@Michael_Carr1: Can’t wait to see Welcome to Wrexham with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mcelhenney with their heads in their hands cursing at the screen whilst watching on in America. Welcome to the Championship! #saintsfc
@bfgfox: WOW! 😅😅😅 Well done for turning it round lads!💪 Ryan Manning take a bow! 👏👏👏 It’s gonna be a roller-coaster so no more half-time booing! Back the f***ing team!
@Reece__03: hahahahahahaah the fairy tale story is over before it started hahaahahhaahah
@ByronSafc: James mcclean subbed in 85th minute at 1-0 up just to lose 2-1 🤣🤣🤣
@WestHam_Central: HOLLYWOOD ENDING
@BadAtGamesLuke: Stick that on your documentary twats championship welcomes you!
@ParrishJohnsto2: Pretty horrific finishing for Wrexham. Insanity to have a 36 year old Mcclean on the pitch. Going to be a brutal year.
