Wrexham v
Walsall

Saturday 16 October 2004 @ 15:00

THE VENUE
For your comprehensive guide to visiting Wrexham see RP's Racecourse Essentials
Address: The Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AH
Telephone Number: 01978 262129 Fax Number: 01978 357821
Web: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk E-mail Address: wrexhamfootballclub@hotmail.com
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TRAVEL GUIDE

WARNING: The A483 is a notorious speed trap for the police and there is a speed camera when you reach the ground - so keep your speed below 30 mph.
For your comprehensive guide to visiting Wrexham see RP's Racecourse Essentials
From the South: Leave the M6 at Junction 10a turning left onto the M54. After approximately 21 miles the M54 becomes the A5. Stay on the A5 passing Shrewsbury and when you reach Oswestry turn right at the roundabout (An ESSO Service Station will be on your left), staying on the A5. At the junction of the A5 and the A483 (An McDonalds Drive Through will be on your right) go straight on at the roundabout to join the A483 signposted Wrexham. After approximately 8 miles leave the A483 at the junction of the A541 signposted Wrexham and Mold. At the roundabout turn right towards Wrexham and after going straight over the next roundabout the ground is ahead of you on your left.
Use the form below to plan your journey to the Racecourse and press the next button:

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Car Parking: NEWI College just before the ground and a local car park just before the Shell Garage on the opposite side of the road and both cost around £2.00. a New car park has opened for this season before the ESSO garage on Mold Road. After passing the ground and the Vauxhall garage the entrance to the car park is on your right before the railway bridge. Free parking is available on the two retail parks by turning left or right at the second roundabout but do not park in ALDI or you will get clamped!
By Train: Wrexham General is next to the ground and there is a service every two hours between Chester and Shrewsbury. There is also an hourly service between Wrexham and Liverpool. Click here for the Network Rail Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950.
To plan your train journey to the Racecourse use the form below:
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By Bus: Wrexham Bus Station is only a five minute walk from the ground but if you want to catch a bus to the ground then use a number 11, 18a or 21 bus. If you prefer to walk then turn left out of the bus station onto King Street and turn right at to the end of this road. Then walk through the set of lights and the ground will be ahead of you just past Wrexham General Train Station after just under a mile. For enquiries call 01978 363760.
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TICKET AND GROUND INFO

For your comprehensive guide to visiting Wrexham see RP's Racecourse Essentials
Ticket Office: 01978 366388
Sainsburys Stand: Executive Box £20; Upper Section - Adults £15, Concessions £10; Lower - Adults £14, Concessions £9.
Sainsburys Stand Family Tickets:  One Adult and One Child - £17; One Adult and Two Children - £20; One Adult and Three Children - £25.
Pryce Griffiths Stand: Adults £16, Concessions £11.
The Kop (Standing): Adults £13, Concessions and Students £7.
Roberts Builders Stand (Away Supporters): Adults £16, Concessions £11.
Disabled Supporters: Wrexham have 45 disabled places available. Admission is free for the disabled supporter and the helper's ticket price is £12. Please contact Tony Millington at The Racecourse on 01978 262129.
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PRE MATCH ANALYSIS
CURRENT FORM - THE LAST FIVE GAMES

Wrexham

Walsall
Opposition Competition Score Opposition Competition Score
Doncaster (a) League 1 0-0 Colchester (h) League 1 2-1
Notts County (a) LDV Vans N1 3-2 Huddersfield (a) League 1 1-3
Sheff Wed (h) League 1 0-3 Rushden & D LDV Vans S1 1-0
Sheff Utd (h) Carling Cup 2 2-3 Brentford (h) League 1 0-1
Tranmere (a) League 1 1-1 Chesterfield (a) League 1 0-1
Overall Overall
W D L F A GD W D L F A GD
1 2 2 6 9 -3 2 0 3 4 6 -2
THE SEASON SO FAR - LEAGUE RECORD
Wrexham Walsall
Pld W D L F A GD Pts Pos Pld W D L F A GD Pts Pos
10 4 3 3 10 11 -1 15 14 12 3 4 5 18 23 -5 13 18
THE DANGER MEN - TOP GOAL SCORERS
Wrexham Walsall
Player League Cup Total Player League Cup Total
Hector Sam 3 2 5 Matt Fryatt 5 0 5
Chris Armstrong 3 0 3 Jorge Leitao 2 1 3
Dennis Lawrence 2 0 2 Daryl Taylor 3 0 3
Chris Llewellyn 0 2 2        
               

THE HARD MEN - WORST DISCIPLINE

Wrexham Walsall
Player Yellow Card Red Card Player Yellow Card Red Card
Chris Armstrong 3 1 Ian Roper 3 2
Darren Ferguson 2 0 Jorge Leiato 2 0
Danny Williams 2 0 Michael Stranding 2 0
Brian Carey 2 0 Simon Osborn 2 0
Alex Smith 2 0 Julian Bennett 2 0
Chris Llewellyn 2 0 Darren Bazeley 2 0
Craig Morgan 2 0      

HEAD TO HEAD

Competition Wrexham Draw Walsall Total
League 28 11 19 58
FA Cup 0 1 2 3
League Cup 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0
Overall 28 12 21 61
Overall as a % 46% 20% 34% 100%

RECENT MEETINGS

Home Team Score Away Team Date Competition Link
Walsall 2-3 Wrexham 24-Feb-01 Nationwide 2 Review
Wrexham 0-1 Walsall 23-Sep-00 Nationwide 2 Review
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MATCH PREVIEW

THE OPPOSITION

Paul MersonAfter relegation from the old first division last season, Walsall have not had the best start to the season after they found it difficult to acclimatise to life in this season's League 1. The Saddlers currently lie in eighteenth position and will take heart from last weekend's win against Colchester after they came from behind to secure the three points in a 2-1 win.

Player-manager Paul Merson labelled the performance the best of the season as he explained to the Walsall Official Web Site: "We played very well. That is the best that we have played all season and we deserved to take all three points. The lads showed the confidence and belief that we have been lacking and without being big-headed or getting carried away, we gave them the run-around."

Merson is hoping that Walsall can build on this performance as they look to secure their first away victory of the season. "The lads have set a bench-mark and hopefully we can maintain these standards and start to string some results together," added Merson. Despite the positive result against Colchester Merson expects a difficult game at the Racecourse. "Wrexham are a good team who like to get the ball down and play football," explained Merson to the Walsall Official Site. "They have a nice pitch and I have done my homework on them in the build-up this week and can see no reason why we can't go there and get something."

There have been some changes behind the scenes at the Bescott Stadium with first team coach Iffy Onoura having his contract terminated despite only joining in the summer and player coach Simon Osborn now back concentrating on his player role. The reason sighted by Merson was that he felt he required more experience to address the poor run of results and Walsall have appointed the experienced Frank Barlow as their new first team coach with the former Chesterfield and Southend United manager taking up his position on Monday, although he will travel to the Racecourse.

Walsall's main threat will come from England under 19 striker Matt Fryatt who is the Saddlers' top scorer this season with five goals. The teenager enjoyed a spell on loan at Carlisle last season but under the direction of Merson the Nuneaton born striker has been earning rave reviews after securing a first team position. The striker is blessed with pace, skill and a good eye for goal and is expected to have a bright future after being awarded a full time contract after only one year of his scholarship.

THE MATCH

Wrexham Team News: Both Denis Lawrence and Chris Armstrong are named in the squad to face Walsall but there still remains doubts over each player. Dennis Lawrence only arrives back in the country later on today but the initial fears of him been injured when he was replaced ten minutes before the end of Trinidad's 3-0 defeat against Mexico have cooled, as it appears the substitution was tactical rather than due to injury. There is also positive news over the fitness of Chris Armstrong after the striker came through training today with no effects on his Achilles injury and a decision will be made before the match on both Lawrence and Armstrong before naming the team. Elsewhere, Matt Baker continues in goal in the absence of Andy Dibble and Lawrence will hopefully join Steve Roberts and Brian Carey in defence but Shaun Pejic is on standby to step in. There are slight concerns over Dean Bennett but he was likely to start on the bench with Jim Whitley continuing at right wing back with Andy Holt on the opposite flank. Danny Williams, Darren Ferguson and Alex Smith will continue in midfield with two from Chris Llewellyn, Hector Sam and Chris Armstrong starting up front. Carlos Edwards remains out until the New Year,

Wrexham Squad (19): Baker, Evans, Roberts, Carey, Pejic, Morgan, Lawrence, Holt, Bennett, Spender, Crowell, Smith, Ferguson, Williams, Whitley, Jones, Sam, Llewellyn, Armstrong.

Opposition Team News: Paul Merson is hoping to name an unchanged side for the visit to Wrexham with the only fitness doubt is over on-loan keeper Joe Murphy who picked up a groin strain with ten minutes of his debut last weekend. If he is out then Mark Paston will be recalled after Richard McKinney, the only other goalkeeper on the books, has been ruled out after fracturing his leg player for the reserves last week. Neil Emblen and Julian Bennett will continue their partnership at the heart of defence as Kofi Dakinah is still a couple of weeks short of match fitness despite making his comeback from a hamstring injury in the reserves. The only other player unavailable for paulmerson to chose from is Joe Broad who has a minor injury.

Officials: The match referee is Steve Tanner of South Gloucestershire and he will be assisted by Tony McGee of Merseyside and Neil Yates of Lancashire. Steve Tanner has refereed 8 games this season sending off 2 players and issuing 26 yellow cards at an average of 3.25 per game.

Weather: Thundery showers (although they did say the same for 4pm today!) are predicted for the match tomorrow with a maximum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and there will be a northerly wind reaching 7 mph.

The Bookies View: Bet Direct and Stan James are offering the Wrexham win at 11/10 with Walsall best priced at 11/4 with Sporting Odds and Corals. Victor Chandler, Bet Direct, Stanley Bet, Bet365 and Premier bet are all pricing the draw at 12/5.

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