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Yahoo
10-08-2025
- 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
10-08-2025
- 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."
09-08-2025
- Sport
Wrexham gets a rude welcome to the Championship as Southampton twice strikes late for 2-1 win
SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Wrexham was denied a Hollywood-style ending on its return to English soccer's second tier on Saturday when relegated Premier League team Southampton struck twice in the final minutes to grab a 2-1 win. Josh Windass' penalty kick in the 22nd minute looked enough for Wrexham's first win in the Welsh team's first game back in the division in 43 years. But Ireland defender Ryan Manning equalized in the 90th with a brilliant free kick over the wall inside the right post and then sent Jack Stephens sliding in at the far post to poke the winning goal into the roof of the net in the 97th. Wrexham missed numerous changes to build on its lead. Ryan Hardie might have scored in the 87th but goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu tipped his left-footed shot just wide. Southampton went closest before the break when Jay Robinson struck the post. Conor Coady cleared Adam Armstrong's effort from the rebound off the line. Wrexham signed Coady from Leicester — he arrived with 198 games of Premier League experience. Wrexham has enjoyed a spectacular rise under celebrity co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Just three years ago, Wrexham was playing non-league soccer in England's fifth tier. After three straight promotions, Wrexham is in the Championship. It's one tier below the Premier League and renowned as one of the toughest divisions in soccer. Saturday's finale showed Wrexham just how tough it can be. Some Welsh clubs — including Wrexham, Swansea and Cardiff — have long played in England's league system for historical reasons as there was no national Welsh league when they moved. The first league representing all of Wales was only founded in 1992.
Daily Mail
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Welcome to the Championship, Wrexham! Ambitious new boys show they belong before Southampton's late double offers brutal introduction to the second tier
The men in yellow shirts dropped to their haunches or stood with their hands on their knees, none of them quite sure how they had just let it all slip through their fingers. Their 3,000 supporters who left Wales before sunrise, and who spent the previous few hours singing of marching armies, fighting foes and the land of their fathers suddenly found their throats empty and unable to make a sound. Wrexham are used to drama these days, this being the club of Hollywood owners and Netflix docuseries, but they are also in the habit of those twists and turns falling in their favour after back-to-back-to-back promotions. Not this time. First the sucker punch, then the knockout blow. A 25-yard free-kick in the 90th minute by Ryan Manning, then Jack Stephens off the crossbar at the back post in the 95th. One-nil up, two-one down. Welcome to the Championship. It was 14 years ago to the day that Wrexham fans raised £100,000 to keep their club alive and here they were competing in the second tier for the first time in 43 years, about to take on a Southampton side who last season faced the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal. So when the players ran out for their warm-up before the game, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson took a moment to reflect on how far this club has come in only four years since their journey under Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, previously McElhenney, began. They may not have been seen here today but, as Daily Mail Sport revealed earlier this week, they have a two-year plan to get Wrexham into the Premier League. It was no wonder the hordes of supporters who filtered their way off the row of Pat's Coaches parked up on Melbourne Street to make the short walk to St Mary's were in such strong voice despite how early their days had begun. The buses left Wrexham's Racecourse Ground around 4.30am, with some of those who spoke to Daily Mail Sport saying they had set their alarms for half past two. One fan named Lucy described it as like waking up on Christmas morning. She, like many, remembered the days of trips to Northampton on a Tuesday night to watch Wrexham play in front of few more than 200 supporters. Here they were playing in front nearly 31,000. However the day may have ended, they are still ones to savour. And how well they did play for such long periods. For the most part, you would have been unable to tell which of the sides spent last season in League One and which in the Premier League. This result might not have gone their way but they showed they already look right at home. 'Hugely disappointed not to get anything from the game but a lot to build on,' reflected a proud Parkinson afterwards. 'It is a very proud day for the club playing at this level. I thought we were really good. That gives us great heart for the season ahead.' Conor Coady put an early chance over from close range, Josh Windass hit the bar from distance. Kieffer Moore, a £2million arrival from Sheffield United, was shoved to the ground by Southampton defender Ronnie Edwards for a penalty that Windass, son of former striker Dean, tucked away. Edwards was lucky not to see red and Parkinson later revealed he'd spoken to referee James Bell about the decision. The opener sparked bedlam in the away end. One young lad stood halfway up the stadium steps swinging his shirt above his head. 'We are top of the league,' they sang before another chorus of Land of our Fathers. It was breathless stuff. Jay Robinson hit the post, Coady cleared another off the line, Southampton were enraged that a couple of penalty shouts didn't go their way and Moore later went off with a concerning ankle injury. The opening chapter of Wrexham's latest one provided one hell of a thrilling start MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS Southampton (3-4-2-1): Bazunu 7; Edwards 6.5 (Stewart 80), STEPHENS 8.5, Quarshie 6.5; Sugawara 6 (Fernandes 60, 6.5), Downes 6.5 (Archer 72, 6), Charles 7.5, Wellington 6.5 (Manning 72, 8) ; Fraser 7, Robinson 7; Armstrong 6.5 (Downs 60, 6) Goals: Manning 90, Stephens 90+5 Booked: Downes, Archer Manager: Will Still 7 Wrexham (3-5-2): Ward 7.5; Cleworth 6, Coady 7, Brunt 6.5; Barnet 7 (Longman 73, 6), Dobson 6, James 6.5, O'Brien 6.5, Cacace 7 (McClean 85); Moore 7 (Smith 54, 5.5), Windass 8 (Hardie 72, 6) Goals: Windass pen 22 Booked: Cleworth, McClean Manager: Phil Parkinson 6.5 Ref: James Bell 5 Att: 30,970 And yet, as is so often the case when teams move up the divisions, taking your chances becomes even more important. Three minutes from time, Ryan Hardie raced clear and thought he'd slotted his effort into the bottom corner only for Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu to tip his effort around the post. So it proved. Manning curled in his stunner before Stephens arrived late to give Southampton fans under young new manager Will Still a rush they have not felt in a long time. 'A new beginning,' our shuttle bus driver had declared to a group of Saints fans when he dropped us off outside St Mary's earlier in the day. 'We need a new beginning,' one replied. 'We need something,' added another. They got one all right. After a season in which they only narrowly escaped finishing with the fewest points in Premier League history, they now have as many home wins this term as they claimed in the whole of the last campaign. 'Fair play to the players for sticking at it,' said Still. 'It's good to show a bit of grit and determination and to bring the energy and the place alive.'
The 42
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Irish pair key as Southampton prevail
Updated at 17.12 WREXHAM SUFFERED an agonising 2-1 defeat on their return to English football's second tier for the first time in 43 years as Southampton struck twice in the closing stages on Saturday. Backed by Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham have enjoyed a dream ascent from the National League to the Championship thanks to three consecutive promotions. 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. The visitors led 1-0 at half-time thanks to 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 in the turnaround. Left-back Ryan Manning was introduced off the bench in the final quarter, and the Ireland international secured a memorable three points for the Saints with a goal and assist. Advertisement Ryan Manning, TAKE A BOW! 🤯 — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 9, 2025 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. The Red Dragons wanted a second penalty when Lewis O'Brien went down after Stephens placed an arm on his shoulder, and Ryan Hardie's failure to beat Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu one-on-one proved costly. The save that made the comeback possible. Gavin Bazunu. #SaintsFC — marsh (@sfcmarsh) August 9, 2025 Bazunu and Manning weren't the only Irish players involved — James McClean came off the bench in the 85th minute for Wrexham, and Eoghan O'Connell was an unused sub. Charlton also scored a stoppage-time winner to beat Watford 1-0 on their return to the Championship. Coventry and Hull played out a 0-0 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 after conceding a controversial stoppage-time penalty. Meanwhile, in League One, former Ireland international David McGoldrick scored a 93rd-minute winner as Conor Hourihane's Barnsley beat Burton 3-2. Ireland U21 international Jamie Mullins found the net in his second appearance since joining Wycombe on loan from Brighton, but it was not enough as the hosts were beaten 2-1 by Stockport. In League Two, Cork native Jaze Kabia made it two goals in two appearances, with the winger on target in Grimsby Town's 3-3 draw with Harrogate Town. Another Corkonian, Aaron Drinan, was on target in Swindon Town's 3-2 win over Cambridge United. Former Shamrock Rovers youngster Dylan Duffy scored in Chesterfield's 2-0 victory away at Cheltenham. Ex-Bohemians attacker Promise Omochere scored a late consolation from the penalty spot as Bristol Rovers suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fleetwood. And finally, a goal from 35-year-old Donegal native Stephen McLaughlin could not prevent Mansfield Town suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Doncaster. Additional reporting by Press Association and Paul Fennessy – © AFP 2025
