Under the floodlights of a pulsating STōK Cae Ras, Wrexham's fairytale return to the second tier was dealt a cruel blow as Coventry City stole all three points with a heart-stopping winner deep into added time.
The Dragons, riding a wave of momentum after their League One promotion, started brightly and thought they'd taken a deserved lead. However, Paul Mullin's early finish was correctly ruled out for offside, setting the tone for an evening of frustration.
Coventry's Clinical Edge Proves Decisive
While Wrexham enjoyed spells of possession and territorial advantage, it was the Sky Blues who demonstrated the ruthless efficiency required at Championship level. Against the run of play, Brazilian winger Raphael Rodrigues broke the deadlock, cutting inside and firing a low drive that gave Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo no chance.
The goal silenced the home crowd, but it ignited a fierce response from the home side. Phil Parkinson's men poured forward in search of an equaliser, with Mullin and Ollie Palmer causing constant problems for the Coventry defence.
A Glimmer of Hope Extinguished at the Death
The pressure finally told in the 83rd minute. A cleverly worked set-piece found its way to defender Max Cleworth, who made no mistake from close range to send the Red Wall into delirium. With the scores level and momentum firmly with Wrexham, a hard-fought point seemed the inevitable conclusion.
But football is a cruel mistress. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Coventry substitute Justin Obikwu found a pocket of space in the box and powered a header into the net, delivering a devastating sucker-punch to the Welsh outfit.
The final whistle confirmed Coventry's smash-and-grab victory, moving them into the playoff spots while Wrexham were left to reflect on a harsh lesson in Championship football. The result leaves the Dragons still searching for their first home win of the season, a stat that will concern Parkinson despite the encouraging nature of their overall performance.
