22 December 2003
By Mark Currie, Daily Post
SATURDAY'S
postponed game at Blundell Park means Wrexham won't now reach the halfway point
of their league campaign until they entertain Sheffield Wednesday in the opening
match of the New Year on January 3.
But their current record in the Second Division bears remarkable similarities to
their position exactly 12 months ago when they were looking to bounce back from
relegation to the Third Division.
Since then, of course, much has changed at the Racecourse, not least the fact
that automatic promotion was achieved on the back of an unbeaten run which
stretched from February until the end of the season.
Also the summer saw the departures of prolific strikers Andy Morrell and Lee
Trundle, who between them had notched up 45 goals. And with them seemingly went
the feel-good factor so much in evidence when a crowd of nearly 10,000 watched
the 5-0 demolition of Cambridge United in the final home game of the season.
But comparison of the year-on-year statistics more or less bears out manager
Denis Smith's contention that Wrexham are playing as well this season as they
did last year, despite the demands of Second Division football - standards which
they had clearly struggled to maintain in 2001 when they went down.
Of course the major difference between this season and last is that the Dragons
have so far failed to reproduce last year's consistency in front of goal, with
the injury-hit Chris Armstrong in particular failing to live up to expectations.
Even though they have conceded fewer goals in the current campaign, the
goal-scoring drought, as Smith has conceded in recent weeks, is a problem that
has yet to be addressed.
Despite that, their results to date demonstrate Wrexham have more than held
their own at the higher level and even in a mid-table position they remain
handily placed just three points off a play-off spot with a game in hand over
the majority of their rivals.
And just as importantly for the cash-conscious club, home attendances at the
first 10 matches at the Racecourse this season have attracted an average of
4,531 fans, compared with an average of 3,273 for the opening 10 games in the
Third Division 12 months ago.
With Armstrong returning to fitness and Lee Jones now also in good shape, the
Dragons boss will be hoping his first-choice front men enjoy a more active
second half of the season and make a positive contribution on a regular basis.
Racecourse tradition dictates that Wrexham's form and consistency tend to
improve in the new year and, providing his players can avoid injury and
suspensions, Smith remains as optimistic as he was in August that a play-off
spot is a realistic ambition.
Sometimes, though, you get the impression he would be even happier if the fans
felt the same way.