| With just five games of the season left, Wrexham
will have to end the current run of six games without a win if we are to
have any hope of avoiding relegation this season.
The bottom three teams in the league all lost in midweek
and we therefore remain four and seven points behind Mansfield and Notts
County respectively.
Shrewsbury picked up a valuable point at Morecambe in
midweek but have now gone fifteen games since their last win, which was
against the same opposition in January.
This form is in stark contrast to the start of the
season when Shrewsbury fans were looking for a play off position at
least after losing out in the final last year to Bristol Rovers.
Shrewsbury recorded three straight wins over Christmas
and this took them to within two places of the play offs and these nine
points has just about kept them ahead of the teams immediately above the
relegation zone.
The run of form also cost manager Gary Peters his job
at the beginning of last month after over three years in charge and his
replacement, former Carlisle and Preston manager Paul Simpson, has
managed to bring in three points from his first six games in charge.
Shrewsbury's defending must have been bad as ours in
the 4-1 defeat at Chesterfield last weekend as manager Paul Simpson
labelled his team's efforts as 'pathetic' but they can make themselves
safe if they beat us and Mansfield fail to pick up three points at
Macclesfield.
Top goal scorer for Shrewsbury is Dave Hibbert with
twelve goals this season.
The striker arrived from Preston in the summer for a
nominal fee but has only scored two goals in his last eighteen games and
his form in front of goal has also gone the same way as the team.
The match will be our first visit to the New Stadium
after Shrewsbury vacated the Gay Meadow at the end of the last campaign.
Recent Encounters:
The match at the Racecourse last November went the way
of Shrewsbury and this was their third successive victory at Wrexham
courtesy of a second half goal from Michael Symes.
Last season, Michael Proctor scored the only goal at
the Gay Meadow and we turned out to be the last ever side to win at their
old ground.
The overall head-to-head in the league sees us both on
seventeen wins each and there has been nine draws in the forty-two games
between the sides.
Team News:
Drewe Broughton and Simon Spender have returned to the
squad but Danny Williams will have a late fitness test.
Williams only returned to the starting line up in
midweek after a lengthy lay off but his back is again causing problems.
Danny Sonner, Carl Tremarco, Mark Jones and Rob Duffy
all remain on the sidelines.
Graeme Lee is shrugging off facial injuries and a
shattered tooth to be in contention for Shrewsbury Town's local derby
with Wrexham.
A kidney infection rules out Asa Hall, and there are doubts over Kelvin
Langmead and Andy Cooke.
Elsewhere in League Two:
With our game against Shrewsbury falling on the
Sunday, our relegation rivals have the opportunity to extend the gap at
the bottom of the table.
The six-pointer this weekend sees second bottom
Mansfield travel to sixth bottom Macclesfield and three points for the
Silkmen will make them safe for the season.
Third bottom Notts County are four points above the
Stags and they entertain Accrington whilst Chester are also at home to
Lincoln. Dagenham are the other team down in the
relegation battle and they are also at home to play off chasing
Rochdale. |
