WREXHAM’S cold turkey Christmas - one point from six so far - is set to become the real McCoy with all the trimmings.

Six points from two home games in four days will boost their promotion push, starting with Sunday;s derby duel against Shrewsbury Town, 12.00. Macclesfield Town are their first visitors in 2003 on new year’s day, 3.00.

Manager Denis Smith today threw down the gauntlet to his players saying: “We have to start winning more matches - especially at home.

“Our home record so far is not good enough and it’s got to improve if we want to achieve what we’re all after. What worries me at the moment is we are still conceding too many goals - and not scoring enough. 

“I’m happy to be in the position we are go into the new year, but from here on in it’s ‘hard’ ball stuff. We’ve got to really take it on from here on in and that means winning matches - not drawing them.”

Smith expects Shrewsbury to come cock-a-hoop to The Racecourse on Sunday after beating Bury 4-1 at the Gay Meadow yesterday.

Veteran defender Peter Wilding gave them the lead and striker Ryan Lowe was on a high, scoring a hat-trick. That sets up Sunday’s derby perfectly and Shrewsbury manager Kevin Ratcliffe will have his players bouncing off the dressing-room walls for this one.

Smith said: “Shrewsbury’s win yesterday was a cracking result. Anyone who beats Bury 4-1 is someone you have to be worried about. But it’s a strange division this. We get beat at home by Kidderminster - and Shrewsbury crash 6-0 at Boston!

“Shrewsbury have also sorted themselves out after that blip and so have we, although I did think we did enough to have won at Rochdale yesterday.”

Top scorer Andy Morrell is still producing the sort of Christmas punch Wrexham need. He got both goals at Spotland to take his League tally to 17 after Wrexham were in all sorts of trouble – on and off the pitch.

Smith revealed: “We go a goal down after only 39 seconds and then they went 2-0 up. At half-time we’ve got Brian Carey being sick in the dressing-room, Paul Barrett’s groin is playing up and Paul Edwards’ back is also giving him some problems!

BEST CHANCE

“Yet, we went back out there and got a point. That shows we have got a side here of some character and that pleases me.

“What we did yesterday that we did not do against Kidderminster was pass the ball well. When we do that we are a match for anyone in this division.

“I’ve always said that. Darren Ferguson had a good game yesterday which is more than you can say about his performance against Kiddy’.

“Lee Trundle, I thought, didn’t have his best game yesterday and it’s what I think that matters. I will pick the side I think has got the best chance of winning each and every game. That’s what I’m paid to do - and that’s what I will do.”

Dan Bennett arrived back yesterday from playing for Singapore in the Far East and may be involved against Shrewsbury.

Smith said: “Dan’s got to get his body-clock back in working order. He’s come halfway across the world and that sort of journey takes it out of you. But we may need him on Sunday and we’ve also got to wait and see who comes in today with knocks and niggles before I can even begin to think about a side to face Shrewsbury.”

Goalkeeper Kristian Rogers had a dodgy game against Kidderminster after coming into the side as a last minute replacement for Paul Whitfield.

Whitfield has keyhole surgery on a cartilage today and number one, Andy Dibble dipped out of a chance of returning at Rochdale. He is still recovering from knee surgery and told Smith he still wants a bit more time before coming back.

Wrexham: Rogers, C. Edwards, Roberts, Carey, Bennett, Lawrence, P. Edwards, Whitley, Ferguson, Barrett, Morrell, Trundle, Sam, Thomas, Pejic, Holmes, Dibble.