Wrexham's Frustrating Draw Against Cardiff City in Championship Opener

Phil Parkinson left the Cardiff City Stadium feeling short-changed – by his own side’s finishing and by the clock.

Wrexham were seconds from opening their Championship return with a statement Welsh derby win, Kieffer Moore’s third-minute strike having put them in control for almost the entire night. They had carved Cardiff City open, rattled the woodwork twice and carried the greater threat throughout.

Then came the 98th minute.

With virtually the last kick, Rubin Colwill stepped up over a free-kick and hammered in an equaliser that ripped the result away from Parkinson’s team and turned victory into a bitter draw.

Parkinson did not hide his frustration.

“We've had chances to kill the game off. We haven't taken them, the keeper's made saves, but we haven't really made him make a top-class save,” he said, knowing the missed opportunities had come back to bite. The regret was sharpened by how often Wrexham had Cardiff rocking.

“We knew we could give Cardiff problems and time and time again we did,” he added. “Really in the cold light of day, the game should have been out of sight, but it wasn't.”

Instead of walking away with a derby scalp and three points to launch their season, Wrexham were left staring at the scoreboard, wondering how a night they controlled had slipped away in the final act.