Wrexham's future as a Football League club looks
bleak following the 2-1 defeat at fellow relegation rivals Macclesfield
in mid week. The result has left us eight
points adrift of safety and with only seven games to go, this match must
realistically be one of a minimum of five wins if we are to avoid
playing Blue Square football next season.
Macclesfield have picked up following the arrival of
Keith Alexander last month after the former Lincoln and Peterborough
manager was dismissed as Bury's Director of Football in February.
Alexander has steered Macclesfield to four wins out of
their last five games and the Silkmen have jumped onto forty-four points
and into nineteenth position.
Previous manager, Ian Brightwell, has left Moss Rose
after refusing to work as number two to Alexander who has relished the
return to management after his unsuccessful spell as a Director of
Football.
Brightwell's departure came following a run of only
one win from nine games but since then, wins at Dagenham and at home to
Shrewsbury, Barnet and Accrington has resulted in the Silkmen moving
seven
points clear of safety after they were only one point above the
relegation zone following Alexander's arrival.
Alexander has turned the SIlkmen's fortunes around
without the use of the loan market following his arrival and his hoping
that his contract will be extended into next season if he can keep
Macclesfield in League Two.
The two players to arrive last month were defender
Richard Walker from Port Vale and trainee striker Scott Spencer from
Everton.
Top scorer for the Silkmen is striker Francis Green
who has netted eleven times so far this season.
Green joined Macclesfield after suffering relegation
with Boston last season and is two goals ahead of striker partner Martin
Gritton who has nine goals to his name.
Recent Encounters:
The last meeting between the sides, a 3-2 with for
Macclesfield last October, may turn out to be a pivotal moment in both our seasons.
Wrexham were looking on for three points as we entered
injury time with a 2-1 lead but somehow ended going home empty handed
after David Morley and Danny Thomas struck in injury time.
Michael Proctor and Chris Llewellyn had put us into a
2-0 lead but a red card for Robbie Garrett also meant we finished the
game with ten men as well as no points.
That was not the first meeting between the two sides
this season with Macclesfield winning 1-0 in the first round of the
Johnstone's Paints Trophy and this game we finished with nine men after
Chris Llewellyn and Michael Proctor were shown red cards.
This was Macclesfield first win at the Racecourse
since 2003, and the head-to-head is even on five wins each with two
draws in the other twelve games between the two sides.
Team News:
Steve Evans is back in contention for Wrexham along
with midfielder Danny Williams after he returned from a back injury as a
second half substitute in midweek.
Jeff Whitley is the latest doubt with a shoulder
injury but Neil Taylor is fit again after a leg injury.
Danny Sonner, Carl Tremarco and Rob Duffy all remain
on the sidelines.
Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander is expected to
keep faith with his in-form team for the trip to the Racecourse.
Striker Martin Gritton has been struggling with hamstring problems, but
he is the Silkmen's only injury worry.
Elsewhere in League Two:
Notts County's trip to Bury would have been viewed as
a six pointer a few weeks ago but the Shakers upturn in form has
resulted in them moving clear of the relegation zone.
The Magpies, unbeaten in four, are eight points ahead of
us in the table and will be looking to build on six points out of a
possible twelve.
Second bottom Mansfield are at home to Barnet whilst
fourth bottom Dagenham travel to Accrington on Friday night. |