| Wrexham return back to the Racecourse to face in
form and second placed Darlington in the slightly earlier than normal
kick off at 2:30 pm. The spirited comeback at
Morecambe in midweek made it three games undefeated but with results
elsewhere going against us, we have slipped five points adrift of safety
and Dagenham Redbridge in twenty-second position.
Darlington arrive at the Racecourse looking to close
the gap on leaders MK Dons
with only two defeats in their last thirteen games and also with the
fifth best away record in the league.
Their most recent form has yielded thirteen points
from a possible fifteen with only a 2-2 draw at home to Macclesfield
preventing five straight wins.
Tommy Wright scored the only goal of the game after
only twenty-nine seconds in the midweek win over Accrington but manager
Dave Penney has demanded more from his players for the duration of the
game if they are going to succeed in achieving promotion this season.
Top scorer for the Quakers is striker Tommy Wright and
his goal in midweek was his thirteenth of the season in all
competitions.
The game sees a quick return to the Racecourse for
Ryan Valentine who rejoined his former club after an eighteen month
spell with Wrexham and the full back will be forever remembered for
scoring the crucial penalty against Boston on the last day of last
season.
Valentine was not the only arrival during the January
transfer window with manager Dave Penney having a busy month in the
market.
Defender Ian Miller has made his loan move from
Championship side Ipswich permanent and striker Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu
has also joined on a free transfer for Bradford but he did not feature
at the Racecourse for the Bantams last weekend.
Penney has also seen the arrival of defender Paul Mayo
and striker Kevin Gall from Carlisle and Notts County respectively but
was left
frustrated when Stuart Elliott turned down a permanent move from Hull
after both clubs agreed a fee for the former Motherwell winger.
Goalkeeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak has also been
signed as cover from Bolton as Andy Oakes is out with a shoulder injury.
Penney has also put pen to a two-year extension to his
present contract after arriving at Darlington in October 2006, which
means he will be with the Quakers until the end of the 2011 season.
Recent Matches:
The club's met on the opening day of the season at the TFM Arena with
the Quakers running out comfortable 2-0 winners with goals in either
half from Levin McBride and Julian Joachim.
In the last two seasons, we have run out 1-0 winners at
the Racecourse on both occasions with an own goal separating the sides
last season and a last minute penalty proving to be the only difference
the season before.
The overall head-to-head in the league sees us
slightly ahead of the Quakers with thirty-three victories to their
thirty-one and there have been twenty-five draws in the eighty-nine
matches played.
Team News:
Richard Hope is suspended for the game after
collecting two bookings at Morecambe in midweek and left wing back Carl
Tremarco has not recovered from his hamstring injury he sustained in the
same game.
The same problem also keeps Paul Hall on the sidelines
but midfield Danny Sonner has been cleared to play and striker Rob Duffy
is back following suspension.
Mike Williams has been added to the squad as cover but
Sam Aiston,
Mark Jones, Eifion Williams and Danny Williams all remain on the
sidelines.
Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu could replace Julian Joachim up
front after returning to Darlington for his second spell.
Goalkeeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak is in line to make the squad after he
was signed as cover for Andy Oakes, who needs an operation on his
shoulder.
Elsewhere in League Two:
Dagenham & Redbridge will be full of confidence when
they entertain mid table Stockport following their Tuesday night victory
at play off hopefuls Wycombe.
Mansfield also received a boost when Michael Boulding
scored a last minute winner at fellow relegation rivals Lincoln and the
Stags return to Field Mill to face Brentford.
The Imps, who are on twenty-five points with Dagenham
and Bury, travel to Shrewsbury whilst the Shakers face league leaders MK
Dons. |
