Dragons must hit goal trail again
Bt Ian Hunt
26 December 2003
WREXHAM
defender Brian Carey admits the Dragons must get their goal-scoring act together
if they are to make a successful bid for the Second Division play-offs.
Speaking ahead of today's trip to struggling Stockport, the Wrexham stalwart
insists the men from North Wales are determined to push for a top-six finish
rather than settle for mid-table mediocrity.
But to do that Carey says Denis Smith's side must rediscover the goal-scoring
threat that has diminished since the summer departures of Andy Morrell - who
contributed 34 goals last season - and Lee Trundle.
"Looking at the season so far, I think we can feel pretty pleased with how we've
adapted back to the Second Division," said Carey, midway through his eighth full
season at the Racecourse.
"We're not far off the play-offs, we've beaten some of the top teams and we've
put in some good performances.
"However, the main problem we've got is we seem to have lost the threat in front
of goal that we had last season.
"I'm not just blaming the strikers for that because the midfielders and the wide
players need to be chipping in.
"Let's face it - it was always going to be difficult to replace Andy Morrell,
who scored an incredible number of goals last season, and Trunds, who also did
well for us.
"But the bottom line is we've got to find more goals if we're going to push up
the table. Everyone has got to take responsibility for that."
Today's trip to Edgeley Park marks the halfway point of the season and, though
reluctant to predict how it will pan out, Carey insists consolidation is not a
word they like to use at the Racecourse.
"Division Two is such a tight league this season that I don't think it would be
wise to try to guess where we'll end up," said the former Manchester United
defender.
"But one thing's for certain - mid-table obscurity is not something we'd be
happy with. You've got to have ambition and a place in the play-offs is the
target we're aiming for.
"We've struggled to be consistent over the first half of the season but if we
can put a good run together - like we did in the second part of last season -
we'll have a good chance.
"Last year we ended by going 14 games unbeaten and that got us promoted.
"I don't think we'll be able to repeat that because it's much harder to beat
teams in the Second Division and it's harder to score goals.
"But if we can put some sort of good run together then we won't be far off the
top six."
After negotiating Stockport, Wrexham continue their festive programme with a
home clash against Blackpool on Sunday.
And 35-year-old Carey believes Wrexham should aim for maximum points from their
last two matches of 2003.
"We're going to Stockport for three points and we'll be confident of beating
Blackpool because we go into every single match believing we can win it," he
said.
"Besides, Christmas and New Year is an important period. It's the halfway point
of the season and it gives us a marker of what we're all about."
Whatever the outcome of the Dragons' 2003-04 campaign, the former Republic of
Ireland international believes there is one aspect the club can already feel
proud about.
"For me, the emergence of the youngsters in the first team is the high point of
the season so far," said Carey, a father figure alongside some of Smith's young
Dragons.
"It's been very encouraging to see the likes of (midfielder) Mark Jones - what a
player he is - and (defender) Craig Morgan coming through.
"It's good news for the club because it bolsters the squad and, who knows, one
day they could be sold on to help generate some funds.
"And it's vital that the youngsters are making the step up to the first team
because the club has no money to go out and buy players."