Manning And Stephens’ Late Show Earns Southampton Dramatic Win Against Wrexham

Ninety minutes earlier kick-off a mates of digivans poking nosy astatine Wrexham completed different thigh of St Mary’s, whizzing past pinch a LED advertisement that read: “Who needs Hollywood?” pinch nan letters of Southampton studded successful nan Californian hills.

On this grounds nan Welsh nine – backmost astatine this level for nan first clip since 1982 aft an bonzer emergence from non-league – are judge to beryllium a nosy addition, but really they were fixed a galling reminder of nan measurement up, Saints scoring doubly successful nan last 9 minutes to gain a comeback triumph and a first nether Will Still.

Two years ago, Southampton were operating 4 divisions higher than Wrexham, ending 2022-23 pinch a 4-4 tie against Liverpool while Wrexham signed disconnected from nan National League pinch a 2-2 tie astatine Torquay. It is only 4 years since nan travel nether Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney began; Wrexham began nan 2021-22 play astatine Solihull Moors successful beforehand of a crowd of 2,196 and Saints a 10th consecutive play successful nan apical flight. Here they were duking it retired connected a level playing field, a pristine aboveground a world distant from Damson Park. Max Cleworth and Ryan Barnett – some connected nan transportation that day, nan second for Solihull – besides began here.

Until nan last infinitesimal of regular clip it appeared Wrexham would commencement nan play pinch a triumph courtesy of a first-half penalty, awarded aft Ronnie Edwards barged Kieffer Moore and converted by Josh Windass, 1 of 7 Wrexham debutants, six of whom were successful nan starting lineup. Edwards could count himself highly fortunate to flight without moreover a booking. Saints came adjacent to levelling successful first-half stoppage time, nan 18-year-old Jay Robinson striking a station earlier Conor Coady blocked disconnected Adam Armstrong’s way to goal. Still, astatine 32 nan youngest head successful nan English Football League, stood hands connected caput trying to make consciousness of it all.

Josh Windass scores from nan punishment spot to springiness Wrexham a first-half lead. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Shutterstock

Wrexham showed nary signs of imposter syndrome and settled quicker. Windass clipped nan crossbar earlier opening nan scoring from nan spot, but nan visitors slow mislaid their grip connected nan game. The presence of Mateus Fernandes connected nan hr – to a immense ovation – helped nan hosts. Parkinson enjoyed a spot of backmost and distant pinch nan location supporters down nan distant dugout aft a punishment entreaty was turned down.

The Wrexham substitute Ryan Hardie, different of those caller faces, forced Gavin Bazunu into an instinctive left-hand prevention connected 87 minutes and 3 minutes later nan Southampton substitute Ryan Manning levelled, leathering successful a superb free-kick from 25 yards. Manning was instrumental successful nan winner, tool. Manning controlled a precocious shot successful nan container and while nan US guardant Damion Downs, different summertime signing, someway grounded to person from a mates of yards out, nan Saints skipper Jack Stephens was live astatine nan backmost station to use nan finish.