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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Still praises Saints 'grit' in Wrexham comeback
New Southampton head coach Will Still praised his side's "grit and determination" in their dramatic win over Wrexham. Trailing the Championship newcomers heading into the 90th minute, Ryan Manning's free-kick and captain Jack Stephens' 96th minute goal turned the match in their favour. So instead of beginning with a dispiriting defeat, the Saints began with a euphoric victory. "Welcome to the Championship! It's just crazy, isn't it?," said Still. "We were probably a bit frustrated with the way we conceded the first goal. We don't need to lose the ball in that part of the pitch, but those are the things that we can work on." Southampton only managed two wins all season as they finished bottom of the Premier League, while yesterday's was a first home league success at St Mary's since last November. Still said: "We were a bit unsure of where the game was going but we got back in control of it, created a few big opportunities, then in the second half, I thought we just took control. "Playing against a really well organised low block is probably the most difficult thing to do. "Credit to everyone for sticking at it, and it's good to show a bit of grit and determination."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Still praises Saints 'grit' in Wrexham comeback
New Southampton head coach Will Still praised his side's "grit and determination" in their dramatic win over the Championship newcomers heading into the 90th minute, Ryan Manning's free-kick and captain Jack Stephens' 96th minute goal turned the match in their instead of beginning with a dispiriting defeat, the Saints began with a euphoric victory. "Welcome to the Championship! It's just crazy, isn't it?," said Still. "We were probably a bit frustrated with the way we conceded the first goal. We don't need to lose the ball in that part of the pitch, but those are the things that we can work on." Southampton only managed two wins all season as they finished bottom of the Premier League, while yesterday's was a first home league success at St Mary's since last said: "We were a bit unsure of where the game was going but we got back in control of it, created a few big opportunities, then in the second half, I thought we just took control."Playing against a really well organised low block is probably the most difficult thing to do. "Credit to everyone for sticking at it, and it's good to show a bit of grit and determination."
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Wrexham denied by Southampton late show on Championship return
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Wrexham's Danny Ward looks dejected after Southampton's Jack Stephens scores their second goal. LONDON – Wrexham endured a long wait to play Championship football – the aim is the Premier League eventually – and manager Phil Parkinson was just proud of his team regardless of the result. On Saturday, they suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat to two late Southampton goals on their return to English football's second tier after 43 years, while Sheffield United were humbled 4-1 by Bristol City. Backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham have enjoyed a dream ascent from the National League to the Championship with three consecutive promotions. They played their first game in the second tier in 43 years and 86 days, the longest gap between matches at that level since Doncaster Rovers between 1958 and 2008. 'I think when we reflect, it's a very proud day for the club playing at this level and there was a lot of positives for us,' said Parkinson. 'The new lads came in and have done really well but the existing players as well. I thought they were really good. That gives us great heart for the season ahead.' After another summer of heavy investment in the transfer market, the Welsh side looked set to make a flying start to their ambition to reach the Premier League. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Four men arrested in Bukit Timah believed to be linked to housebreaking syndicates Singapore Criminal trial of Hyflux founder Olivia Lum and five others starts Aug 11 Singapore Profile of Kpod user has shifted from hardcore drug users to young people: Experts Tech Former data analyst creates AI tutor that assesses students based on Singapore schools' criteria Opinion Recognising our imperfections is part of what makes Singapore whole Opinion I used to be impatient. Then I became a granddad Business The risks of using 'decoupling' to own two properties Asia Manila struggles to keep a lasting hawker culture, casts eyes on how Asian nations lifted street food The visitors led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a Josh Windass penalty and could have been further in front as Windass also hit the bar. Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, were under the orders of Will Still for the first time and the former Lens coach had a telling hand to play in the turnaround. Still brought left-back Ryan Manning off the bench in the final quarter and the Ireland international secured a memorable three points for the Saints with a goal and assist. Manning's brilliant free kick on 90 minutes levelled before he crossed for Jack Stephens to fire in the winner six minutes into added time. 'It was crazy,' said Still. 'Good to show a bit of grit and determination. To bring the energy and place alive which probably helped us bundle the ball over the line is good.' Ruben Selles' tenure as Blades boss got off to a nightmare start as Scott Twine's double and goals from Ross McCrorie and Anis Mehmeti gave Gerhard Struber a commanding win in his first match as Bristol City boss. Elsewhere, Ryan Mason enjoyed a winning start as West Brom manager as Isaac Price's 15th minute goal secured a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. Millwall shocked highly-fancied Norwich City 2-1 at Carrow Road thanks to substitute Macaulay Langstaff's late winner. Dael Fry's first goal in more than three years ensured Rob Edwards' reign as Middlesbrough head coach got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Swansea. Adrian Segecic scored on his debut to give Portsmouth a 1-0 win at Oxford, while Stoke City struck twice in stoppage time to beat Derby County 3-1. Charlton Athletic also scored a winner in added time to beat Watford 1-0 on their return to the Championship. Coventry and Hull played out a 0-0 stalemate, while QPR and Preston shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Birmingham, bankrolled by an ownership group containing seven-time Super Bowl winning NFL quarterback Tom Brady, began their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Ipswich Town after conceding a controversial stoppage time penalty. AFP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Stuck at it' - Still feels Stephens 'deserved' dramatic winner against Wrexham
SAINTS boss Will Still insisted captain Jack Stephens deserved his late winner against Wrexham after facing criticism since signing a new deal. Stephens, who penned fresh terms until 2028 this summer, scored a 96th-minute winner for Saints to secure a chaotic 2-1 win on the opening weekend. The 31 year old was in the right place to thump in off the underside of the crossbar after summer signing Damion Downs failed to make contact with a cross. Skipper Stephens celebrated in front of the Northam Wall as St Mary's descended into celebrations not seen here since Southampton's play-off victory over West Brom. "It's massive, it's massive. We know Stevo gets a fair bit of criticism. He's made his mistakes, we all know that," said Still. Jack Stephens celebrates after Saints secure a late, late win at St Mary's. (Image: Stuart Martin) "He knows that better than anyone. One, he's a really good human being. People tend to forget that because we're footballers and we're a bit of a limelight. "He probably deserves this as well. He's always stuck at it, and he's always been positive. Like I said, he's a good person to have around. "Grit and determination to bring the energy and the place alive helped us somehow bundle that ball over the line at the end, which is good. "It's also showing having Stevo there in the 96th minute is where we want to go. It's a great way to start." Manning, who set up the goal with his cross from the left, added: "It's brilliant. It was one of those days where we could have rolled over and carried on from last year, but we didn't." Manning had pulled Saints level six minutes before the winner with an unstoppable free-kick as the clock ticked into added time. His contribution was enough to see him claim the man of the match award, despite replacing Welington after 72 minutes. Manager Still joked he was unsure about that decision by the broadcasters, but could not take anything away from the Irishman's quality. "We know he's got a good left foot, that's why we brought him on. We wanted to get the ball to the box with Roscoe (Ross Stewart) and Damion and Cam Archer in there," he explained. "We know how important set-pieces are and are going to be in the Championship. The man of the match after 20 minutes is questionable, but fair play to him, it's a good strike."
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Wrexham end defeated but defiant on their long-awaited Championship return
The agony was etched across every Wrexham face. Just 13 seconds remained of six added minutes at the end of a pulsating fixture when Jack Stephens broke Welsh hearts with a dramatic winner. Worse still, Phil Parkinson's side had actually led on 90 minutes, Josh Windass' penalty separating two teams who last season had been playing two divisions apart. Advertisement But then came the first of two body-blows to illustrate just how ruthless the Championship can be, as Ryan Manning's curled free-kick to level the scores was followed by Stephens' late, late decider. No wonder there were so many crestfallen expressions among the 3,000-strong travelling contingent as referee James Bell blew the final whistle to signal Wrexham's first game at this level since 1982 had ended in defeat. What was also evident, however, was an air of defiance. 'Wrexham, Wrexham, Wrexham,' chanted the Welsh hordes in unison, the pain of such a gut-wrenching defeat partly eased by how well their team had played against a Southampton side strongly fancied to bounce back into the Premier League at the first attempt. 'A lot to build on,' said Parkinson, who will assess over the weekend the ankle injury that forced Kieffer Moore out early in the second half. 'A really strong performance with a lot of new players and a lot playing at this level for the first time. We just needed that second goal. 'When we are able to reflect, it was a really proud day for us as a club. It is important now we keep representing the club like we have these last four years.' It had all been so different 75 minutes earlier. With Wrexham's Championship return half an hour old, there had been an air of impudence as the travelling fans sang, 'Are you Chester in disguise?' Whether Southampton have ever previously been compared to a team about to embark on their eighth straight season in National League North, the sixth tier of English football, is unclear. But all the locals could do was suck it up. To be fair to the noisy visitors from Wales, the swagger in the stands had been matched by the confident manner in which their team had taken to a game that had caused something of a stir on the south coast. Advertisement This much had been apparent a couple of hours before kick-off when two portable billboards were parked outside St Mary's Stadium, their purpose to beam an image of the Hollywood hills, complete with the word 'Southampton' spelt out in big white letters. If those arriving for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off still did not get the message, a parody of the 'Welcome to Wrexham' poster that advertises the documentary of the same name, complete with Will Still as 'The Gaffer', was interspersed with the Hollywood image. Again, the 11 letters that make up the port city were inserted for 'comedic' effect. As with the familiar opposition chant 'Where were you when you were s***?' — unusually, not heard on Saturday — such antics are taken as a back-handed compliment by Wrexham loyalists. After years of being ignored, suddenly their club matters again. And sure, there were plenty of American voices cheering on the visitors in the Saturday lunchtime kick off, including a Super Bowl-winning coach who had flown in just 24 hours earlier with his family to join the party. But there was also a sizeable hardcore present who had been there throughout the bleakest of bleak days. The fight for survival under the ownership of Alex Hamilton, the non-League defeats against tiny teams who, in other circumstances, would not have been on the same pitch and the famous weekend, almost exactly 14 years ago, when fan power saved a proud but badly failing football club. The story of how supporters banded together to raise £100,000 in 24 hours — one even pledged his wedding fund — to avoid being booted out of the fifth-tier Conference is why any opposition chants about glory-hunting fails to glean the anticipated response. It's also why returning to the second tier after 43 years meant so much, even to the more recent additions drawn in by the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, fans whose knowledge of those dark days is second hand. All this emotion made a throaty rendition of club anthem Wrexham is the Name at kick-off particularly apt. As were the many tributes paid to Joey Jones, Wrexham's greatest servant who passed away last month at the age of 70, on this historic day for the club. Advertisement 'It's surreal to see us back at this level after all these years,' said Michael 'Scoot' Hett, the lead singer of the Declan Swans who became a breakout star of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary. 'Never in my wildest dreams did I envisage watching Championship football again.' Super Bowl winning coach Paul McCord, his wife Mindy and son LJ are at the other end of the supporter-scale, having been among those who caught the Wrexham bug through the show. Living on the other side of the Atlantic wasn't going to prevent them being in the away section. 'We just had to be here,' said McCord, a member of the coaching team who took the Baltimore Ravens to Super Bowl glory in 2001 and fell for Wrexham via the documentary. 'Four years of going to football and four tiers of football. It's been more magical than Disney. Trust me, I live in Florida.' For 90 minutes, Wrexham did, indeed, look like making supporters' dreams come true courtesy of an impressive team display. They were organised, used the ball well and caused all manner of problems for a Southampton side boasting such quality that Cameron Archer, Ben Brereton Diaz and Ross Stewart — three forwards who would surely walk into most teams at this level — had to be content with places on the bench. Plenty caught the eye in Wrexham's change colours of green and yellow, particularly among the debutants with Moore leading the line wonderfully with able support from Windass and Lewis O'Brien bringing plenty of energy to midfield. Defeat was perhaps most harsh on Conor Coady, who was truly outstanding marshalling a back three which also featured Championship rookies Max Cleworth and Lewis Brunt. 'We know we are here to disrupt and upset a few teams in this division,' said Coady, once of the England national setup. 'I felt we did that today, bar maybe 10 minutes at the end of the first half and then the end of the second half. We have shown we can play.' What defeat did underline is the fine lines that exist in this division. Had Ryan Hardie converted when one-on-one against Gavin Bazunu with just a couple of minutes remaining then, surely, Southampton's fightback would never have materialised. As it was, Bazunu's fingertip save paved the way for that crazy, crazy ending. Welcome to the Championship, indeed. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
