Wrexham suffered a double gut punch as Southampton struck twice late on for a dramatic 2-1 victory at St Mary’s.
Josh Windass put Wrexham ahead on their return to the second tier of English football after a 43-year absence, converting a 22nd-minute penalty when fellow summer recruit Kieffer Moore was fouled.
Southampton — two divisions higher than Wrexham last season — pushed furiously throughout for reward, but they were fast running out of time when substitute Ryan Manning dispatched a superb 90th-minute free kick.