by David Lovett
22/02/02
WREXHAM
will have to dynamite rock-solid Brighton out of three points tomorrow.
Chipping away will do next to nothing at the Withdean Stadium where the high-flying Seagulls are nigh on unbeatable.
But Wrexham manager Denis Smith believes his players are capable of blowing Brighton to bits. All it needs, he says, is for someone to hit the detonator and. . . .boom!
Could that explosive character be smiling striker Hector Sam? There are those who think he's a nutcase for turning down the chance of playing against Brazil to stay in the front line of Wrexham's relegation battle.
Even Smith was amazed by our double scoop last night involving Sam and goalkeeper, Marius Røvde. Sam is turning his back on playing for Trinidad against the Brazilians and Norwegian Røvde is ready to 'Pay and display' for Wrexham out of his own pocket.
"I think their gestures are fantastic," said Smith. "Hector has done well for me, but at times he needs a little bit of a cuddle. He gets down and I have to put an arm around him and wind him up again. But he's got something different and there is no doubt in my mind this lad can play a major part in helping to keep us up."
Smith is also delighted with the attitude of Røvde. "Marius knows the score here in terms of there being no money to pay him once his cash from Ayr has gone," said Smith. "But the fact that the lad is prepared to pay his own wages, to me, says it all.
"He just wants to play football and I like that. We hear of so many mercenaries in the game these days - but Marius is certainly not one of them.
"Brighton won't be easy. They've got a tremendous home record, but they are without Bobby Zamora who has had a lot to do with them winning matches. That gives us a chance and if I can get the best out of my lads we'll give 'em a game."
Smith is almost certain to be without central defender Steve Roberts. He has a knee tendon injury that forced him out of the 2-1 defeat at Queen's Park Rangers. Skipper Brian Carey replaced Roberts at Loftus Road and will continue tomorrow alongside in-form Dennis Lawrence.
Playmaker Darren Ferguson missed the QPR game because of suspension but he returns to take over from stand-in Kevin Russell. But Smith still had plenty to think about as Wrexham headed south for their overnight hotel this afternoon.
He revealed: "I had Lee Trundle in for a chat this week and we discussed certain things which I'm not going into. But at the moment Trunds' is finding life difficult in this division and that doesn't surprise me. This is his first full season and it's not easy after coming out of the league he was in.
"Everyone in my squad has to accept they must earn their places in the side. That's the only way forward. At the moment we're not a good side, but we're decent on our day. We've proved that of late and I'm sure we'll give a good performance at Brighton. The lads know it's a big game - and they want to win down there. Put it this way, if we win it may surprise a lot of people - but it won't surprise me."