No stuffing, thanks

by David Lovett

07/12/01

CHRISTMAS is coming and Wrexham will take anything and everything that is presented to them.

That includes three points tomorrow against Bristol City – gift-wrapped, or otherwise.

Manager Denis Smith is forever optimistic about Wrexham avoiding the drop even if he has had a few white knuckle rides since taking over the reins from Brian Flynn.

It began well enough with a 1-0 home win over Queen’s Park Rangers with Michael Blackwood getting the winner and his first League goal for the club. Two more wins and a draw and suddenly Smith was a hero, if not a magician.

But Wrexham then lost six games on the bounce and that went down like a lead balloon. Smith steadfastly refused to give up hope and he still insists Wrexham WILL go forward. There have, however, been spots of bother against Stoke City and Northampton Town with missed penatlies.

Darren Ferguson fired the first of those wide when Smith’s beloved Stoke came to The Racecourse on November 24. That was followed by a bizarre load of cobblers as they missed a twice-taken penalty against Northampton. ‘Missed’ hardly does credit to Cobblers’ keeper Keith Welch because he brilliantly kept out the first from Fergie and then the re-take from Lee Trundle after a hawk-eyed linesman spotted the keeper had moved off his line.

Ferguson atoned for his miss with a wonderful winner - direct from a free-kick - and Smith wants three more points tomorrow against Bristol City, another of his former clubs. Smith left Ashton Gate under something of a cloud but he’s still man enough to admit:

“They’re a big club. They may be in the second division, but Bristol City are potentially a big, city club. They’ve got a good fan base and I’m sure they all feel their club should be at a higher level.”

City are currently fifth from top and will clearly be difficult to beat. But Smith argues: “We’ve already shown we can match - and play better - than teams way above us in this division. The Stoke game is a good example of that. We murdered them - and lost. I’ll settle for Bristol City murdering us tomorrow - provided we win! Any team can beat anyone in this division at the moment.”

City boss Danny Wilson wouldn’t argue with that and expects a tough time tomorrow. He said: “Wrexham are down at the moment but they’ll be in there fighting for every ball. I know Denis Smith’s attitude towards the game and he’ll never lie down. He’s a fighter and I’m sure he’ll have Wrexham fired-up for this one.”

Wilson is without key men including his main playmaker, Brian Tinnion, who has a knee problem, left wing-back Mickey Bell, who is struggling with a hamstring injury, and ex-West Ham and Charlton striker Steve Jones. Mark Lever, a competent defender, is also doubtful because of a back injury.

Wilson will have Mike Stowell in goal behind Bristol-born Louis Carey, Danny Coles and Matt Hill. Coles is another Bristolian who came through the academy at Ashton Gate while Hill is a versatile defender.

Scott Murray, Tom Doherty, Allan Brown and Craig Woodman are pushing for places in midfield with Tony Thorpe and Lee Peacock likely to be the two front men. Transfer-listed Thorpe is City’s leading scorer with 10 goals and it was his golden goal winner that put Peterborough United out of the LDV Vans Trophy, southern section, quarter-final. Peacock is also a handful. He’s big and strong with an eye for goal.

On the bench are likely to be goalkeeper Steve Phillips, Joe Burnell, Lee Matthews, Robin Hulbert and Marvin Brown.