Wrexham start the New Year with a difficult trip
to a Chesterfield side who have won their last three games without
conceding a goal.
This, compared to our current run of five straight
defeats, gives little hope for anything but a sixth straight defeat but
football
does have a tendency of throwing up strange results now and again and
boy do we need one to avoid being cut adrift at the foot of the
table.
The game is also a start of a run on the road for us
as six of our seven games this month are away from the Racecourse,
although Chesterfield do not have the best of recent records at home
with their pre Christmas win over Mansfield their first at home since
the middle of October.
Since the two sides last met at the beginning of
October, when Chesterfield left the Racecourse with an emphatic 4-0
victory, the Spireites have only lost two of their subsequent thirteen
games and the victory at Barnet on the weekend has left Chesterfield in
fifth position with a return forty points from their twenty-two games.
For team in the upper reaches of the table,
Chesterfield have an average home record with only three wins at home
this season from ten games and this is only one more than us, but the
Spireites consistency this season is proven by the fact they have
occupied a play off spot since the fifth game.
Top scorer for Chesterfield is former Notts Forest
striker Jack Lester and if ever a fact showed the gulf between the two
teams, Lester has scored the same number of league goals this season as
the whole Wrexham team combined: 14.
Lee Richardson has been in charge of Chesterfield when
he replaced Roy McFarland as manager in March 2007
Richardson was unable to steer the Spireites to safety
last season but has made a promising start to the new campaign as
Chesterfield look to bounce back to league One at the first attempt.
Richardson has managed Chesterfield before in a
caretaker capacity but this is his first job as a full time manager.
Recent Encounters:
When the two sides met at the Racecourse earlier on
this season, the game was virtually over after only fifteen minutes as
Chesterfield found themselves 3-0 up before going on to complete a 4-0
victory.
You have to go back to the 2004/05 season for the
previous
game between the two sides when we completed the double over
Chesterfield.
The first game at the Racecourse ended in a 3-1
victory with goals from Stephen Roberts, Mark Jones and Chris Llewellyn
but it was Juan Ugarte who took centre stage in the return match.
Chesterfield scored the opening goal in this game but
Ugarte went on to score four goals until Chesterfield grabbed the
consolation in a 4-2 win.
The overall head-to-head in the league sees
Chesterfield out in front with 48 victories compared to our 33 and there
have been 24 draws in the 105 league games between the two teams.
Team News:
Wrexham are again without defender Richard Hope who
has been ruled out for a second game with an ankle injury.
Midfielder Matt Crowell completes his three game ban
and Robbie Garrett has returned to Stoke City after his three month loan
period expired.
There are further problems for Wrexham in midfield
with both Silvio Spann and Mark Jones facing late fitness tests.
Kevin Gray is serving the last of a three game ban and
Hungarian Janos Kavos is expected to again deputise despite struggling
with a slight strain.
Phil Picken has recovered form his ankle injury but
may not be rushed back whilst on loan pair Adam Rooney and Felix
Bastians play their last game before their loan deals expire.
Top scorer Jack Lester plays his last game before a
suspension after collecting his fifth booking of the season on the
weekend.
Elsewhere in League Two:
Mansfield, who are one place and a point above us in
the table, face a difficult task when they travel to league leaders MK
Dons.
Lincoln occupy the place just above the relegation
zone and they will fancy their chances when they entertain a Bury side
who are just five points above the Imps in the table.
Dagenham's victory at Bury on the weekend has opened a
five point gap on Mansfield and the league new comers are at home to
London rivals Brentford. |