Two teams wey people dey expect make dem fight for top-six go meet for Championship opening matchday, as relegated Southampton go host promoted upstarts Wrexham.
Saints drop back go second tier last season in bad style, while dia Welsh brothers continue dia fairytale waka go up for league ladder. Dem go meet for St Mary’s on Saturday.
Match Preview
Southampton just escape the worst points tally for Premier League history small, as dem suffer one bad season for 2024-25, wey end with dem relegation for last place.
Russell Martin, Simon Rusk and Ivan Juric try but e no work, and after that bad year, former Lens coach Will Still don take over and e wan start afresh.
Promotion back to Premier League na clear target for Southampton, but road long and competition strong.
Dem start pre-season with 2-1 win over Eastleigh, then waka go Spain wey dem draw 1-1 with Castellon and lose 2-1 to Espanyol.
Last week, dem travel go Brighton & Hove Albion for dia last friendly. Dem fight back from 2-0 down take draw 2-2, thanks to Jay Robinson 69th-minute goal and Adam Armstrong penalty.
Wrexham on dia own go play dia first second-tier match in 43 years. Last time wey both teams meet for league na April 1960; for any competition, na 1979-80 League Cup, wey Southampton beat dem 8-0 on aggregate.
This time, Wrexham don change, as Hollywood money and big public interest carry dem climb from lower leagues enter Championship.
After two promotions back-to-back, Wrexham end last season for League One unbeaten in 10 games, win seven, finish second.
For summer transfer, dem sign Kieffer Moore and Conor Coady, plus trip go Australia wey dem beat Melbourne Victory 3-0 before dem lose to Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix. For Netherlands, dem lose 3-1 to Groningen.
Southampton pre-season form: D L D
Wrexham pre-season form: W L L L
Team News
Tyler Dibling no dey training again as e dey near Everton move. Kyle Walker-Peters, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Jan Bednarek and Aaron Ramsdale don comot from Southampton, but new signings Joshua Quarshie and Damion Downs fit play this weekend.
Downs be USA international and na FC Koln joint-top scorer for 2.Bundesliga last season, e even score for Espanyol friendly. Jay Robinson wey make EPL debut last season dey push for start too.
For Wrexham side, dem sign Ryan Hardie, Conor Coady, Lewis O’Brien and Moore. Liberato Cacace from Serie A fit debut too. Injury dey worry George Thomason, Ollie Rathbone and ex-Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez.
Possible Lineups
Southampton possible starting lineup: Bazunu; Stephens, Bree, Quarshie, Manning; Fernandes, Charles, Downes; Armstrong, Archer, Fraser
Wrexham possible starting lineup: Ward; O’Connell, Coady, Brunt; Longman, Lee, O’Brien, Cacace, McClean; Windass, Moore.
Prediction
We say: Southampton 2-2 Wrexham
This early Championship kickoff fit set the tone for the day, as two teams from different background go jam. Wrexham sabi score plenty, and Southampton still get strong squad despite the players wey don comot. Draw dey possible.