Manning up for the role

RYAN'S LATE HEROICS RUIN WREXHAM'S DAY

- By Steve Judge AT ST MARY'S

RYAN MANNING appearances off the bench should come with a spoiler alert, as he inspired a Hollywood ending that broke Wrexham hearts on their return to the second tier.

The Southampton sub struck with a stunning 90th-minute free-kick to save Will Still from defeat in his first game in charge.

He then delivered the cross for skipper Jack Stephens to thump in a dramatic 96th-minute winner.

Up until then it looked as if Josh Windass would deliver his own Welcome to Wrexham as his debut penalty looked set to kick-start their quest for a fourth straight promotion in style.

But this was a harsh welcome to the Championship for Phil Parkinson's men, who had started the game strongly.

It is hard to say a club owned by forward-thinking Tinseltown superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are living in the past - but Wrexham's first match in the second tier for 43 years felt very 1982. The big man-little man combination has never gone out of fashion with boss Parkinson. Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin’s partnership brought success on the pitch and appearances in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie.