Southampton marked their return to the Championship with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wrexham at St. Mary's Stadium. In a pulsating match that saw Wrexham take the lead through a Josh Windass penalty, Southampton left it late, with Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens scoring in the dying moments to snatch the win.

Wrexham, back in the second tier for the first time since 1982, displayed no signs of intimidation early on. They settled into the game quickly, with Windass and Conor Coady testing the Southampton defense inside the opening 10 minutes. Wrexham's efforts paid off in the 22nd minute when Kieffer Moore was fouled in the box by Ronnie Edwards, leading to Windass coolly converting the penalty. Some observers noted that Edwards was fortunate to escape without a red card for the foul. Wrexham continued to press, with Lewis Brunt missing a free header to potentially extend their lead.

Southampton, under the guidance of their new manager Will Still, the youngest manager in the Championship at 32, struggled to break down Wrexham's defense for much of the game. The Saints had chances, with Welington firing into the side netting and Windass rattling the crossbar with a long-range effort. Just before halftime, Jay Robinson hit the post, and Conor Coady denied Adam Armstrong from the rebound, keeping Wrexham's lead intact.

The second half saw Southampton increase the pressure, but Wrexham remained resolute. Wrexham were awarded a penalty when Moore was fouled. Moore, however, was injured in the process and had to be substituted. As the game approached its end, Wrexham appeared to be heading for a memorable victory on their return to the Championship. However, Southampton had other ideas.

In the 90th minute, Ryan Manning, with a brilliant free-kick, equalized for Southampton. The goal sparked wild celebrations at St. Mary's and shifted the momentum entirely. With the clock ticking into added time, Southampton continued to push for a winner, and in the 97th minute, captain Jack Stephens slid in at the far post to convert a cross, sending the home fans into raptures.

The late turnaround was a bitter blow for Wrexham, who had defended valiantly for so long. They missed chances to extend their lead, with Ryan Hardie's late shot being saved by Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. Despite the defeat, Wrexham's performance showed they will be a competitive force in the Championship this season.

For Southampton, the win marked a perfect start to their Championship campaign under Will Still. After a difficult season in the Premier League, the Saints are determined to bounce back, and this dramatic victory will give them confidence. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 30,970 at St. Mary's Stadium.