Wrexham were given a harsh introduction to the Championship on Saturday, as they suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Southampton. I was present at St Mary's to witness the Red Dragons' first match in the second tier in 43 years and, despite the outcome, there were numerous positives to take away. Phil Parkinson's team took the lead when Josh Windass successfully converted a penalty in the first half after Wales international Kieffer Moore was pushed to the ground. The roar from the over 3,000 travelling supporters was a sound that will remain with me for quite some time, as the Hollywood-backed club demonstrated their ability to compete at this level. Admittedly, the moment was somewhat marred by the ecstatic Southampton fans who celebrated as Ryan Manning scored an equalising free-kick in the 90th minute. The Saints' supporters grew even more boisterous as Jack Stephens added insult to injury by scoring off the crossbar in the sixth minute of extra time. However, it wasn't the noise of approximately 27,000 home fans celebrating that afternoon that disturbed me the most. Rather, it was the distressing thud that echoed in the second half when Wrexham forward Moore had an attempt blocked before collapsing to the pitch in pain. The former Bournemouth striker became Parkinson's eighth summer acquisition when he arrived from Sheffield United for a reported £2million fee in the week leading up to the Southampton fixture. The 33-year-old's signing on a three-year contract was praised by fans, and rightly so. His commanding presence suited the number nine role perfectly against the Saints with some superb link-up play. It was instantly apparent that Moore had sustained a painful injury when he went down. He bravely attempted to continue but was forced off for Sam Smith in the 54th minute. Wrexham's goal led a charmed existence at periods during the opening 45 minutes at St Mary's, but Moore helped ease some of that burden by ensuring the ball stayed up top. It was no surprise that his exit from the field saw them find it difficult to retain possession thereafter, and a Southampton goal became virtually certain. Regrettably, there was additional disappointing news following the final whistle as Parkinson revealed Moore had sustained an ankle ligament problem, which may result in an extended spell out of action. The former Bolton boss said: "We've lost Kieffer, which is obviously a blow. His performance was outstanding, everything we know he brings to us. We've just got to assess that injury as quickly as we can. It was his ankle ligaments." Parkinson is now left with a conundrum, the solution to which hinges on the extent of the damage. Ollie Palmer could be the most obvious replacement, but his struggle for goals in League One last season and recent rumours of a departure from Wrexham complicate matters. A rare foray into the loan market or even another permanent signing might be necessary, given the importance of the number nine role in Parkinson's squad. It's an unwelcome predicament as he aims to establish the North Wales team as a formidable presence in the Championship. There were, however, other notable performances against Southampton, with newcomer Conor Coady expertly commanding the defence following his transfer from Leicester City . Danny Ward, another who left the Foxes this summer , also put on a commendable display between the sticks. Despite the circumstances, Wrexham supporters appeared relatively upbeat as they made their way to Southampton Central station post-match, bracing themselves for the five-hour journey back home. Yet, Moore's injury undoubtedly cast a shadow over what was otherwise a bright day on the south coast.