Southampton produced a scintillating performance to rout Wrexham 5-1 at Stok Cae Ras and leapfrog their play-off rivals into sixth place in the Championship. Kuryu Matsuki and Flynn Downes struck early, and although Josh Windass pulled one back before the break, Cyle Larin, Ross Stewart and Finn Azaz completed an emphatic victory.
The result moves Tonda Eckert's side one place above the Red Dragons and two points clear in sixth, with the bonus of a game in hand over each of their top-six rivals. Wrexham, who had occupied the play-off spots, drop to seventh in a damaging night for Phil Parkinson's promotion-chasing team.
No Sign of an Arsenal Hangover
Southampton arrived in north Wales showing six changes from their memorable 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Arsenal three days earlier, but there was no hint of fatigue. The Saints were twice denied by the framework of the Wrexham goal inside the opening exchanges, Larin heading Ryan Manning's delivery on to the crossbar before Azaz nodded the rebound against the bar in the eighth minute.