Wrexham began their second Championship season with a bitter taste, held to a 1-1 draw by Welsh rivals Cardiff City after conceding a stunning 98th-minute free-kick from Rubin Colwill at Cardiff City Stadium. Phil Parkinson was left furious with the match officials, feeling his side had been denied what would have been a statement opening-day victory. The late equaliser stings particularly hard given the ambition Wrexham brought into this campaign.

The club invested heavily in the summer to signal their Premier League intentions. A club-record £8 million deal for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson underlined the direction of travel under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who remain committed to pushing the Red Dragons up the football pyramid. That level of investment raises expectations, which makes dropping points so late all the more deflating.

Pre-season offered mixed signals. Wins over Leeds United and Manchester United in friendlies showed genuine quality, but three consecutive 1-0 defeats, including a Carabao Cup exit to Middlesbrough, suggested the squad still has work to do in terms of consistency. Those concerns were not fully answered at Cardiff.

Sitting 13th in the Championship table with one point from one game, Wrexham now host Watford at SToK Cae Ras on August 22. A home win would settle early nerves and give Parkinson's side the platform they need. How they respond to the frustration of Cardiff will say a great deal about their credentials this season.