Latest News

Reds are on the up
By David Lovett, Evening Leader

WREXHAM are a good bet for promotion, according to former England caretaker-manager Peter Taylor.

His Hull City side held Wrexham to a goalless draw at The Racecourse on Saturday and Taylor said: “Wrexham will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. I knew Wrexham have had the most shots at goal in all the division and that shows just how good they are. I believe they are one of the best sides in the division.”

Taylor was particularly impressed with Wrexham’s front two, top scorer Andy Morrell and Lee Trundle who between them kept busy Tigers’ man of the man, goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite. He made outstanding saves from them in both halves. Musselwhite also kept out a goal-bound header by Jim Whitley.

Wrexham skipper Darren Ferguson, who was involved in virtually everything, was booked for the fifth time this season. That means he misses the third division game at Carlisle United on Saturday week.

Wrexham were by no means eaten alive by Hull City, but they ended up having to bite the bullet after failing to gun them down at an overcast Racecourse on Saturday. Goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite takes most of the credit for that as trigger-happy Wrexham let him have it both barrels.

Musselwhite certainly earned his stripes as the Tigers were at one stage on the run from Wrexham's relentless pressure.

Musselwhite saved early on from top scorer Andy Morrell and later made a breathtaking one-handed save to keep out Jim Whitley's flying header.

Musselwhite also made quickfire second-half saves from Morrell and Lee Trundle before young Paul Whitfield also pulled a save out of the top drawer for Wrexham.

It was one of those games where you had to keep your head - and feet - on a saturated surface. Sadly, the marauding Morrell did the first but lost the second when he had a gilt-edged chance to have won it for Wrexham with just 13 minutes left. Great control by Trundle set it up and as Morrell powered his way into the box he just lost his feet at the crucial time.

That was probably the most clear-cut chance Wrexham had although Brian Carey's first-half header came back out off a post with Musselwhite, for once, beaten. The corner count, perhaps, gives a fair idea of which way the tide was flowing for most of the game.

Wrexham had 14. Hull had none. Corners, of course, don't win matches, but they do show where most of the goalmouth action was hence Musselwhite's contribution.

There were times when he stood alone against Wrexham, but it's also true to say Hull manager Peter Taylor wasn't a happy tiger on times as his side wasted chances. Musselwhite made the first of many vital saves from Morrell in the 10th minute, but three minutes later the prowling Tigers should have scored.

Steve Roberts' wayward header let in Steve Melton and when Dan Bennett slipped just as he was about to challenge it opened up all sorts of possibilities.

Another mistake, this time by Hull's John Anderson, gave Paul Edwards the chance to stretch his long legs and get in Whitley but he, too, dragged a shot wide. Clever stuff by Trundle then got Morrell racing through but Musselwhite was off the blocks quickly to claim the ball. A neat one-two between Trundle and Carlos Edwards then won the first of Wrexham's 14 corners before Carey connected with a solid header that smudged a post.

Wrexham were in the driving seat for most of the first-half but Musselwhite was always a safety harness for the visitors. The corners kept coming thick and fast as Bennett's long ball picked out Carlos Edwards, who took it first time only for his shot to be deflected behind. Musselwhite then made that awesome save from Whitley's header before Carey slung a great ball up to the hard-working Morrell, who was chopped down by Damien Delaney, who was booked.

Musselwhite fumbled Darren Ferguson's free-kick but recovered in time to snatch the ball to safety.

But it was all still to play for in the second-half and Wrexham wasted no time in getting at Hull. Whitley cushioned a lovely ball into Morrell, whose first shot was blocked by Musselwhite and the keeper was also quick enough and good enough to block the rebound attempt. Musselwhite then made a point-blank stop from Trundle as he got on the end of Carlos Edwards' corner.

Hull also had another hero in Ian Ashbee. He brilliantly dispossessed Ferguson as he was winding up the elastic to shoot just before Wrexham lost Carey with an Achilles injury. Shaun Pejic replaced him and referee George Cain, who won't be on Wrexham fans' Christmas card list, incensed them by taking no action against Justin Whittle after he had flattened Trundle with a tackle from behind.

The tempo went up and Trundle hit Paul Edwards with another great ball but his cross was poor before the ref was again booed. Morrell was clearly shoved in a race for the ball to the touchline, ending up in Hull's dugout, but again no action was taken. Pejic put a header over from Trundle's cross and then came Morrell's costly slip in the box as manager Denis Smith made two late changes.

Hector Sam came on for Trundle, who got a standing ovation as he came off, and Lee Jones replaced Barrett with barely a minute of normal time left. Another long ball, pinged from the back by Bennett, almost got Sam in and in the three minutes added on Wrexham were still going forward in search of a winner.