Wrexham v

Stockport County

Saturday 01 October 2005

 

Kick Off @ 15:00

The Hatters
Chris Turner
Stockport suffered a blow midway through September when top scorer Jermaine Easter was ruled out for a month after pulling a thigh muscle in the 3-3 draw against Wycombe. The Welshman had found the back of the net of five occasions until he picked up his injury and is not expected to return until after the game at Wrexham.

Like Wrexham injury problems have not helped Stockport's chances of returning to league One at the first attempt following their comprehensive relegation last season when they finished 25 points adrift of safety. The Hatters had to wait until the first weekend in September for their first victory and this came as a surprise when they defeated current leaders Grimsby 3-1 at Blundell Park. In fact this was County's first win in seventeen league games in a run that stretched back to last February when they defeated Hartlepool 2-1.

County manager Chris Turner is familiar to League 2 football after spending four years in the division with Hartlepool before leaving midway through their promotion season to join Sheffield Wednesday. Turner's aim for any season is promotion but views the current campaign as a consolidation year.

"I think more realistically next season will be our target but it is still very early days. I know all three divisions, I've experienced them all - and I know what is required to get out of them," explained the County manager to BBC Sport.

Past Encounters

Juan UgarteThe teams last meat at Edgley Park in April this year where Wrexham ran out 4-1 winners with all goals coming in the first half. Juan Ugarte was on fine form that afternoon scoring a hat trick within the opening half hour and Carlos Edwards scored Wrexham's other goal. In total the two sides met three times last season with Wrexham winning each game including a win on their way to the LDV Vans Trophy victory.

 

The clubs have met on 90 occasions in the league with Stockport winning 40 times, Wrexham 31 and there have been 19 draws.

Form Guide

Wrexham: LDWWLDDL

 Stockport: LDDWDLDL
County's first win of the season at Grimsby came on the back of five draws in the league and these points had helped the Hatters maintain a mid table position.  County have been unable to build on their victory as it was followed up by their sixth league draw at home Wycombe before losing 3-2 at Rusden. The seventh draw followed, this time a goalless one at home to Chester, before they lost in midweek at Lincoln. Apart from the victory at Lincoln their only other points away from home have been draws at Boston and Oxford at the start of the season.

Wrexham go into the game on the back of a 4-1hammering at Wycombe but their home form is somewhat better with three wins and a draw at the Racecourse this season. In recent games two successive home victories have been followed by two disappointing defeats at Lincoln and Wycombe with two draws - one at Orient and the other at home to Macclesfield - sandwiched in between.

Bookies View

Wrexham are odds on for the win with the best odds available at Sporting Odds who are offering 9/10 with the draw next at 12/5 with BetDirect. The best odds on the Stockport win is 7/2 with Ladbrokes and BetDirect.

Team News

Wrexham Team News: Denis Smith's options have improved with central defenders Paul Linwood and Dave Bayliss shaking off knocks in midweek and Lee McEvilly is available after recovering from an ankle injury. Mike Ingham may be fit enough for a place on the bench following a groin strain whilst defender Paul Warhurst will have a fitness test on his ankle prior to the game. Even with this positive news on the injury front Wrexham remain without Shaun Pejic, Andy Holt, Jim Whitley, Lee Roche and Matt Crowell.

Michael Jones will continue in goal as Michael Ingham is not frit enough to start and the defence will be unchanged after Paul Linwood and Dave Bayliss were passed fit to join Dennis Lawrence in the back three. Dean Bennett and Alex Smith remain at wing backs with Danny Williams, Mark Jones and Darren Ferguson unchanged in midfield. With Lee McEvilly not match fit Jon Walters and Robbie Foy continue their partnership up front.

Wrexham Squad (17): Michael Jones, Ingham, Linwood, Lawrence, Bayliss, Smith, Williams, Mark Jones, Ferguson, Walters, Foy, Mackin, Warhurst, Bennett, Spender, McEvilly, Williams.

Stockport Team News: County are without Harpal Singh and Danny Boshell with hamstring and groin injuries respectively and they join long term casualties Jermaine Easter and Mickael Wolski on the side lines. On the plus side Michael Raynes is expected to be included in Chris Turner's squad.

Officials: The match referee is Nigel Miller from County Durham and he is assisted by Mo Matadar and Andy Williams with Anthony Taylor as the fourth official. Nigel Miller has refereed 11 games this season already sending off six players and booking 31 at an average of 2.81 per game.

Other League 2 Fixtures:

Barnet v Oxford United
Boston United v Peterborough
Bury v Lincoln City
Carlisle v Bristol Rovers
Cheltenham v Torquay
Leyton Orient v Mansfield
Macclesfield v Notts County
Northampton v Darlington
Rochdale v Rushden & Diamonds
Shrewsbury v Grimsby
Wycombe v Chester

Venue Guide

Address: Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 1AH

Telephone Number: 01978 262129

Fax Number: 01978 357821

Web Site: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk

Opposition Websites

How to get there?
By Car: Join the M56 towards Chester and at Junction 15 turn left onto the M53 towards Chester. The M53 becomes the A55 and at junction 36 turn left onto the A483 towards Wrexham. Leave the A483 at the junction with the A541 and take the first left at the roundabout and straight over the next roundabout and the ground is ahead of you on your left.

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. Click here for the Rail Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950.
When you are there
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. 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!

Beer and Grub: The Turf is right next to the Kop but it gets very busy in the hour leading up to kick off, so arrive early. The Official Supporters Club has use of the Centenary Club on matchdays and this is located behind the Sainsburys Stand with the entrance off the club car park. The Plas Coch Retail Park has a pub and is normally a favourite for away supporters. The Railway is located down the side road along the Remploy factory at the opposite end of Crispin Lane to the ground. There are plenty of pubs in the town centre and the closet to the ground is a Wetherspoons Pub by following Mold Road through to sets of lights and is on your left after the next junction. If you continue into the town centre McDonalds will be on your left and the next pub you reach is The Horse and Jockey and opposite that under the archway is a good chip shop. There are a more pubs on High Street and to find them continue pass the Horse and Jockey, passing Burger King on your left, and High Street is the junction with Burtons. On there you will find another Weatherspoons, Yates plus other pubs and bars.

Cash Machines: The Shell Garage on Mold Road with further machines at Sainsburys and Boots on the Plas Coch Retail Park. If you are heading into the town centre you will pass a number of banks on your way to the pubs.

How much to get in?

Kop: £14; Sainsburys: £16 PG Stand: £17

Eric Roberts Away Stand: £16

Adult & up to 2 Children: £20 all areas

Two adults & 2 Children: £30 all areas

Seniors/Students: £10 all areas

Juniors: £5 all areas

Disabled Facilities
Wrexham have 45 disabled places available at the front of the Pryce Griffiths Stand. There are 22 parking spaces and two disabled toilets with dedicated refreshment kiosks. 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.

Weather Forecast
Light showers with temperatures reaching a maximum of 14 degrees Celsius and a 14 mph westerly wind.