'It's a straight red!' – Wrexham's dream Championship start turns into nightmare as Phil Parkinson claims last-minute winners Southampton were lucky to complete match with 11 players

Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham should have been playing against 10 men at Southampton before suffering a dramatic late collapse.

  • Red Dragons took the lead at St Mary’s
  • Conceded twice in the closing stages
  • Manager frustrated but staying positive

'It's a straight red!' - Wrexham's dream Championship start turns into nightmare as Phil Parkinson claims last-minute winners Southampton were lucky to complete match with 11 players'It's a straight red!' - Wrexham's dream Championship start turns into nightmare as Phil Parkinson claims last-minute winners Southampton were lucky to complete match with 11 players'It's a straight red!' - Wrexham's dream Championship start turns into nightmare as Phil Parkinson claims last-minute winners Southampton were lucky to complete match with 11 players

The Red Dragons enjoyed a dream start to their first second tier fixture since 1982 when opening the scoring at St Mary’s inside 22 minutes. Summer signing Josh Windass converted from the penalty spot after strike partner Kieffer Moore had been felled inside the box.

defender Ronnie Edwards conceded a spot-kick after shoving Moore in the back, but escaped any kind of disciplinary action. With 11 players still on the field, the home side staged a stirring late fightback as Ryan Manning curled in a long-range free-kick and Jack Stephens bundled a 96th-minute winner over the line off the underside of the crossbar.

Parkinson told reporters afterwards of a huge call that ultimately did no favours: “He was clean through and he gets pushed down for the penalty. I’ve spoken to the ref and said, ‘Look, my interpretation of that rule is if it’s an intentional push it’s a straight red’.

“I saw it from the touchline and the footage again at half-time. I can’t see how he’s not got that right because it’s a game-changing moment as they’re down to 10 men. I know the ref feels there’s a covering defender. But if you’re about to strike the ball on goal where he was on the pitch, and the player intentionally pushes you to the ground, the ref’s got to make that call right.”

Despite leaving the south coast empty-handed, Parkinson is taking plenty of positives from a meeting with a team that were playing football last season. He added: “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.

“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.”

Wrexham did see international Moore pick up an untimely injury, which forced him off in the second half, but there is the promise of further transfer business to come in North Wales as Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney help to make more funds available.