Wrexham kick off their season in the Championship by facing Southampton in the early kick off on Saturday. These clubs were separated by two leagues last year with Saints plying their trade in the Premier League and Wrexham securing promotion from League One.
The Welsh club have won promotion in each of the last three seasons in a rare story of success which has taken them from the National League to within touching distance of the Premier League. Playing in the top flight is the dream of their Hollywood owners who have made key signings in the transfer window with the experienced Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore joining the squad.
Saints will hope to give them a reality check after a bruising season in the top flight last year. They secured just 12 points in the entire campaign but have a new boss, in Will Still, whose target is to steer them back to the Premier League on the first time of asking.
Follow all the action from St. Mary’s as Southampton take on Wrexham in the Championship:
Southampton vs Wrexham live
- Southampton host Wrexham in the Championship, live on Sky Sports Main Event
- 90+6' GOAL! Stephens nicks it late in stoppage time (SOU 2-1 WRE)
- 90' GOAL! Manning's superb free kick brings the equaliser (SOU 1-1 WRE)
- 21 GOAL! Windass converts from penalty spot for visitors (SOU 0-1 WRE)
- 13' CROSSBAR! Windass' curling effort strikes the woodwork (SOU 0-0 WRE)
- 8' CHANCE! Coady's attempt from close range is lifted over the top (SOU 0-0 WRE)
How's this for a stat?
14:43 , Mike JonesSouthampton have now won the same amount of home league games this season as they did in the Premier League last season.
Today’s match was their first game of the year.
Wrexham dealt harsh lesson
14:39 , Mike JonesFormer Wales and Wrexham midfielder, Barry Horne, speaking on BBC Radio Wales:
“Southampton dominated the last half hour and they would have been desperate to win.
“Phil Parkinson and his players will have learnt a lot from that.”
Will Still shows class
14:31 , Mike JonesThere were a few questions over Southampton’s new manager Will Still.
Today was his first match coaching in the Championship and he’s secured his first win.
Once the hosts went behind he made changes and bringing on Ryan Manning was a masterstroke.
Manning got a goal and an assist inside six minutes at the end of the game to help Southampton clinch all three points.
Full-time! Southampton 2-1 Wrexham
14:27 , Mike Jones90+8 mins: Southampton dug deep after conceding a penalty in the first half and going behind against Wrexham.
The hosts dominated the second half and Gavin Bazunu made a couple of great saves to keep them in the game.
Ryan Manning’s free kick secured them the equaliser before Jack Stephens earned all three points with seconds left on the clock.
Wrexham are heartbroken.
Welcome back to the Championship.
GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Wrexham (Jack Stephens, 90+6')
14:26 , Mike JonesWOW!
Southampton have nicked this right at the death. They work the ball out to the left wing where Manning gets in behind.
He plays the ball across the face of goal where Jack Stephens arrives at the back post and toes the ball into the roof of the net!
GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Wrexham (Ryan Manning, 90')
14:20 , Mike JonesUnbelievable Jeff!
Southampton win themselves a free kick about 25-yards out from goal.
Ryan Manning places the ball for the set piece and whips a curling shot at goal. It’s perfectly placed and beats Danny Ward’s outstretched hand before finishing in the corner.
Wow. Southampton have the equaliser.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
14:17 , Mike Jones88 mins: The Wrexham fans are chanting for Danny Ward who has been impressive for them in goal today.
He’s been a confident and solid presence between the posts.
Will he secure a clean sheet?
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
14:14 , Mike Jones85 mins: Liberato Cacace is replaced with James McClean for Wrexham.
That’s press legs and an experienced hand coming on for the final stages in this clash.
Southampton continue to push though.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
14:11 , Mike Jones82 mins: Wrexham are camped well inside their own half now.
They’re less than 10 minutes away from a big, big win. Can they hold out?
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
14:09 , Mike Jones79 mins: It’s just not clicking for Southampton in the final third.
When they get close to the box they can’t get off that killer shot and Wrexham are defending very well.
They’re holding shape and frustrating the hosts.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
14:05 , Mike Jones76 mins: Lewis O’Brien could send Wrexham two goals up. He nicks the ball in the middle of the pitch and drives past the nearest defenders.
He carries the ball into the box and takes too long to shoot which allows Stephens to sprint back and shoulder him off the ball.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
14:03 , Mike Jones73 mins: Close!
Southampton float a corner kick into the box where Jack Stephens leaps higher than Conor Coady to meet the ball.
He nods an effort at goal but Danny Ward clings onto the ball and smothers it.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:58 , Mike Jones70 mins: 20 minutes to play at St. Mary’s. Wrexham’s free flowing aggressive nature has been stinted in this half with Saints pushing for an equaliser.
The next goal could be a crucial one and at the minute the hosts look the most likely to get it.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:57 , Mike Jones66 mins: Damion Downs is now on for Southampton hoping to provide a presence up top.
Matheus Fernandes is also introduced and takes a shot from range which draws a save out of Danny Ward.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:52 , Mike Jones63 mins: Welington makes a quick run into the left edge of the box and feels some contact. He goes to ground looking for a penalty but nothing comes from it.
Southampton are controlling the game now, Wrexham need to keep them at bay.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:49 , Mike Jones60 mins: Nearly!
Flynn Downes has been Southampton’s best player so far today. He receives the ball and plays a blind pass to supply Adam Armstrong.
Armstrong darts into the box, moves out to the left then laces his shot wide of the far post.
Better from the home side.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:45 , Mike Jones57 mins: Unreal defending by Jack Stephens.
Wrexham punt a long ball forward to Sam Smith who probs the ball into the box only for the Saints captain to leap into a tackle and poke the ball out for a corner.
Last ditch stuff.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:43 , Mike Jones54 mins: No, Kieffer Moore’s knock is a little too much for him and Phil Parkinson makes the change.
Sam Smith comes on in his stead and Moore heads straight down the tunnel for treatment.
Not a good sign for the new Wrexham signing.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:41 , Mike Jones51 mins: Damion Downs has been sent out to warm up for Southampton.
Kieffer Moore has taken a knock and caused a break in play but he’s fine to continue.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:37 , Mike Jones48 mins: Southampton are aggrieved after a shot is blocked by Max Cleworth.
The ball strikes his left hand but the referee judges his arms to be in a natural possesion and awards Southampton a corner instead.
Wrexham defend it well enough.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:36 , Mike Jones47 mins: Wrexham win a free kick just inside Southampton’s half and flick the ball into the right side of the area.
Windass makes an early run and meets the ball before hooking it wide of the far post.
The offside flag then goes up.
Second half! Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:35 , Mike JonesThe ball gets rolling again at St. Mary’s.
Is there a way back into this match for the Saints?
HT Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:31 , Mike JonesWrexham have a slender lead after the first 45 minutes.
Can they hold onto it and secure a first win in the second division in over four decades?
HT Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:25 , Mike Jones
Half-time! Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:19 , Mike Jones45+3 mins: The whistle goes to signal the half-time break at St. Mary’s.
Robinson strikes the post at the end of the half before Coady clears a shot off the line from Armstrong.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:12 , Mike Jones41 mins: Southampton are ticking now.
Ryan Fraser darts into the box as the Saints thread another pass into the penalty area.
Fraser pokes a lunging shot towards goal but Ward is well placed to deflect the effort out for a corner.
Pressure on Wrexham here.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:09 , Mike Jones38 mins: Ward is called into action again after Flynn Downes holds off a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before poking a pass through to Adam Armstrong.
Armstrong shoots but picks out the Wrexham goalkeeper.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:05 , Mike Jones35 mins: Southampton work the ball down the left side where Adam Armstrong manages to keep possession.
He plays it into the box where Jay Robinson controls the ball. He takes a touch to set himself but O’Brien sprints back and intercepts the ball before he can shoot.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:04 , Mike Jones32 mins: Wrexham have settled into this match better than Southampton.
They’re starting to dictate more of the play as time goes on but manager Phil Parkinson isn’t happy.
He’s gesturing wildly on the sidelines and eventually gets booked by the referee.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
13:01 , Mike Jones29 mins: Close!
Lewis O’Brien curls a free kick into the penalty area and picks out the run of Lewis Brunt.
Brunt leaps and powers a header towards the goal only to watch as his effort flies over the top.
Wrexham have had plenty of chances in this half already. They could be three or four up.
Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
12:54 , Mike Jones25 mins: Both teams have started well but a mistake from Southampton’s defence has brought the opener, can the hosts respond now?
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Wrexham (Josh Windass, 22')
12:52 , Mike JonesJosh Windass places the ball on the spot. He’s got a bit of timeto wait but keeps his cool and side foots his penalty into the back of the net.
Gavin Bazunu dove the right way but couldn’t get a hand to the ball.
Wrexham lead at St. Mary’s.
Penalty to Wrexham!
12:50 , Mike JonesSouthampton 0-0 Wrexham
20 mins: Ronnie Edwards gives Kieffer Moore a shove as the big striker sprints into the box.
Moore goes down and the referee points to the spot...
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:49 , Mike Jones18 mins: Close!
Shea Charles sends a low pass into the box and finds Jay Robinson who whips a first time shot at goal only for Danny Ward to leap to his left and palm the ball away.
It rebounds back to the Saints, and Charles, who drills a second effort at goal only for a lunging Conor Coady to block the effort.
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:43 , Mike Jones13 mins: Crossbar!
Another close call and this one at the other end. Josh Windass finds some space on the inside left channel where he receives the ball.
He rolls it onto his right foot and whips a curling effort towards the far post.
The ball dips and lands on the crossbar before bouncing out for a goal kick. A couple more inches drop and Wrexham have the lead there.
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:42 , Mike Jones12 mins: Saints win the ball in a midfield battle and burst forward.
A simple pass is played into the left side of the box and Welington has the beating of Ryan Barnett.
The winger gets to the ball first and shoots only to ping his effort into the side netting.
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:39 , Mike Jones8 mins: Chance!
Wrexham should be one up.
Another swinging cross from the right finds the run of Conor Coady who gets a foot to the ball and lifts it over the top of the crossbar!
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:37 , Mike Jones6 mins: Kieffer Moore has a half-hearted appeal for a penalty when Wrexham swing a cross in from the right side.
Ronnie Edwards leans on the striker who flops to the floor with his arms wide. The referee wants none of it and calls for play to go on.
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:34 , Mike Jones4 mins: Yukinari Sugawara pushes forward on the right and creates some space for the Saints.
He whips in a cross that almost finds Adam Armstrong before Wrexham manage to hook the danger away.
Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:32 , Mike Jones2 mins: Close! Southampton create the first chance at goal with a threaded pass through to Ryan Fraser cutting in from the left wing.
He collects the ball carries it into the box and curls a right-footed shot just wide of the target.
An early warning sign for Wrexham to not advance too high up the pitch.
Kick off! Southampton 0-0 Wrexham
12:30 , Mike JonesWrexham get the game started and work the ball over to the right wing where is bounces out of play for an early Saints throw in.
Both teams will want to start quickly and impose themselves on this game.
Southampton vs Wrexham
12:27 , Mike JonesHere come the teams.
The players head out onto the pitch at St. Mary’s. The 2025/26 Championship season is about to get underway for these two teams.
Who will triumph this afternoon?
Kick off is up next...
Wrexham's 'clear identity'
12:20 , Mike JonesWill Still says that Southampton need to show the best of themselves against a Wrexham side that have a ‘clear identity’ and have gained a lot of success over the last few years.
Wrexham boss, Phil Parkinson, adds that his side will be ‘positive’ and take the game to Southampton prefering not to sit back.
10 minutes to go until kick off.
Back in the second tier
12:15 , Mike JonesWrexham will play their first second-tier game in 43 years and 86 days when they face Southampton in their opening Championship fixture of the 2025/26 season.
It is the longest gap between matches in England’s second-tier since Doncaster Rovers returned in 2008 (50 years, 105 days).
Quick starters
12:10 , Mike JonesWrexham are unbeaten across their last 10 league games with seven wins and three draws.
They only conceded multiple goals in one of those matches as well.
The Welsh side last had a longer unbeaten streak in the EFL between March and August 2003 (18 games).
Forget Ryan Reynolds – meet the man plotting Wrexham’s stunning rise to the Premier League
12:05 , Mike JonesAnticipation is building to a fever pitch ahead of the 2025-26 Championship season, and Wrexham are preparing to play their first match in the compelling and cruel second tier of English football since the 1981-82 campaign.
Wrexham have undergone a seismic metamorphosis since being purchased by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds through Wrexham Holdings LLC in November 2020, becoming the first club in the history of England’s top five football divisions to achieve back-to-back-to-back promotions. And while there have been several protagonists in that journey, one of the most important instigators in their growth is Les Reed.
Meet the forgotten man plotting Wrexham’s stunning rise to the Premier League
More from Still:
12:00 , Mike Jones“We’re expecting a lot of intensity, a lot of 50-50s, challenges and quite a high-intensity game, because that’s the way they play and that’s the way we want to play.
“They’ve obviously got this momentum going through the team and through the club, so we expect the very best version of Wrexham.
“We will have to be at our very best as well.”
Pre-match thoughts from Will Still
11:55 , Mike JonesSouthampton’s new manager, Will Still, said: “They (Wrexham) are a really efficient team.
“They’ve got quite a clear identity in what they do and how they go about things, and they’ve obviously been incredibly successful, so fair play to them and congratulations to them.”
Slow starters
11:50 , Mike JonesSouthampton have won just one of their last 11 opening fixtures of a league campaign with four draws and six defeats in that run.
That victory came during their only Championship fixture during that time – a 2-1 win over Sheffiled Wednesday in August 2023.
More from Parkinson:
11:45 , Mike Jones“Sometimes you do have to step back and appreciate what we've done.
!I don't want us to fear it. I want us to go into every game ready to be positive. We've always been at our best when we've played in a positive way.
“We're going to go into each game with that mindset and see where that takes us."
Pre-match thoughts from Phil Parkinson
11:40 , Mike JonesThe Wrexham manager said: "It's amazing that we'll be running out at Southampton in front of a packed house, against a team that has spent a lot of time in the Premier League over the last few years.
“When I look at my first game here, Solihull away in front of a couple of thousand people, and four years later we're running out at Southampton.”
65 years in the making
11:35 , Mike JonesThe last league encounter between Southampton and Wrexham was in April 1960 in the third tier with the Welsh side winning 2-1 after goals from Ron Harbertson and Bernard Evans.
Southampton vs Wrexham
11:30 , Mike JonesThe tow clubs have only faced each other seven times but the honours are pretty much even.
Here’s the head-to-head record:
Played: 7
Saints wins: 4
Draws: 0
Wrexham wins: 3
Stephens previews the match
11:23 , Mike JonesSouthampton defender Jack Stephens spoke about today’s match saying:
“I think on an individual basis, you're probably not 100 per cent sure of what they're going to do.
"They've got a lot of things that they've been successful with over the past three or four years. So I can't see them changing too much from what they've been successful with."
Wrexham XI to take on Southampton
11:18 , Mike JonesWrexham XI: Ward: Cleworth, Coady, Brunt: Barnett, Dobson, M. James, O’Brien; Cacace, Windass: Moore
Here's how we line-up at St Mary's Stadium for our opening @SkyBetChamp fixture 👇
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) August 9, 2025
🔴⚪ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/w1anGzNnSB
Southampton line-up to face Wrexham
11:17 , Mike JonesSouthampton XI: Bazunu: Sugawara, Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie; Welington, Downes, Charles; Fraser, Robinson, Armstrong
Your REDS 🫵 pic.twitter.com/kNsjR8lZrT
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 9, 2025
A long wait for a meeting
11:00 , Mike JonesThis is the first meeting in any competition between Southampton and Wrexham since the 1979/80 League Cup second round.
Saints won 5-0 at home and 3-0 away in a two-legged tie.
Will they repeat one of those results today or will the game be a closer affair?
James McClean signs new Wrexham contract
10:50 , Mike JonesJames McClean has signed a new contract with Wrexham taking him through to the end of the 2026/27 season.
McClean has made 89 appearances for Wrexham since joining in 2023 and captained the team to their League One promotion last season.
McClean said: “I’m delighted to be extending my contract with the Club. It’s no secret that I’ve enjoyed my time here and I want to help continue the success we’ve had so far.”
Forget Ryan Reynolds – meet the man plotting Wrexham’s stunning rise to the Premier League
10:40 , Mike JonesAnticipation is building to a fever pitch ahead of the 2025-26 Championship season, and Wrexham are preparing to play their first match in the compelling and cruel second tier of English football since the 1981-82 campaign.
Wrexham have undergone a seismic metamorphosis since being purchased by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds through Wrexham Holdings LLC in November 2020, becoming the first club in the history of England’s top five football divisions to achieve back-to-back-to-back promotions. And while there have been several protagonists in that journey, one of the most important instigators in their growth is Les Reed.
Meet the forgotten man plotting Wrexham’s stunning rise to the Premier League
Wrexham early team news
10:30 , Mike JonesWrexham, meanwhile, will field a squad vastly strengthened by their summer business, with ex-Premier League stars Coady, Moore and Danny Ward in line to make their debuts. Liberato Cacace, New Zealand’s versatile left-back, was a mainstay in Serie A last term and should also make his first competitive start.
However, Jay Rodriguez will not get the chance to reunite with his old club as he sits on the treatment table, with Ollie Rathbone and George Thomason also injured.
Predicted Wrexham XI: Ward; O’Connell, Coady, Brunt; Longman, Lee, O'Brien, Cacace; McClean; Windass, Moore.
Southampton early team news
10:22 , Mike JonesSouthampton starboy Tyler Dibling has been withdrawn from training as a move to Everton nears, meaning he will likely play no part in their season opener.
And while the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Aaron Ramsdale have already departed the club, Saturday’s clash will pose an opportunity for new boys Damion Downs and Joshua Quarshie to start this weekend.
Proven Championship attacking threats Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer are also available.
Predicted Southampton XI: Bazunu; Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Manning; Charles, Fernandez, Downes; Fraser, Archer, Armstrong.
How can I watch it?
10:14 , Mike JonesThe match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK, with coverage starting at 11am BST.
When is Southampton vs Wrexham?
10:07 , Mike JonesThe match will kick off at 12:30pm BST on Saturday 9 August at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
Southampton vs Wrexham
10:00 , Mike JonesWrexham’s dream of Premier League football is closer than ever as they are welcomed back to the Championship by Southampton.
Off the back of three consecutive promotions from the National League, Wrexham are raring for their first game at this level in over 40 years and have been preparing as such, signing the likes of Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore in a busy summer transfer window.
And while Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be keen to make it four in a row, Southampton will look to give them an early reality check in the English second tier, having themselves felt the wrath of the Premier League in recent times.
The Saints narrowly avoided the ignominy of becoming the joint-worst side in top-flight history, finishing with only one point more than Derby County’s infamous tally of 11 in 2007/08, but under new boss Will Still, they will set their sights on bouncing straight back, as they did two seasons ago.
Good morning!
09:23 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Championship action.
One of the early kick offs in the second division is an intriguing clash between Southampton and Wrexham who entered the league from opposite sides of the pyramid.
Saints were relegated from the Premier League after a shocking season in which they only managed to secure 12 points. They have a new manager in Will Still and are hoping to bounce straight back up to the top flight this year.
Wrexham, meanwhile, continued their fairytale rise under their Hollywood ownership and earned a third consecutive promotion in as many seasons. They are now one step away from the Premier League and will have their sights set on another promotion this year if they can get off to a good start.
We’ll see how this match up plays out this afternoon, stick around for all the team news and build-up ahead of a 12.30pm kick off.
