30 December 2003
By David Lovett
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| Denis Smith |
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Our supporters at Stockport on Boxing Day were magnificent.
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THE heat went up today in frostbound Wrexham about Saturday's second division sizzler against Sheffield Wednesday, 1.00. Wrexham expect their biggest crowd of the season of between 8,000-9,000, with the Owls filling the visitors' end.
Wrexham manager Denis Smith said today: "It's nice to have a buzz about the place. Sheffield Wednesday are a massive club, with a massive following. That means there are high expectations from them - and that's something we will be trying to exploit here on Saturday.
"I've seen all this sort of thing at Sunderland. The away following we used to get when I was manager there had to be seen to be believed. Thousands, and I mean thousands, followed us wherever we went, simply because Sunderland, like Sheffield Wednesday, are a big club. I'm hoping we can turn that sort of passion in our favour on Saturday.
"Our supporters seem to be in two schools at the moment. When we're playing well at home they get behind the lads. But we need them more when we're not doing too well and, at the moment, our away fans seems to realise that more than those who only come to home games.
"Our supporters at Stockport on Boxing Day were magnificent. They saw us miss chance after chance in the first-half but their support never wavered and eventually we got what we - and our fans -deserved.
"We've
just had three wins on the trot so we're very happy with our Christmas. I've
given myself a few selection problems for Saturday after
changing a winning team - and winning again! Those are the sort of selection
problems I don't mind!"
Centre-back Steve Roberts limped off in Sunday's 4-2 win over Blackpool with a
back injury and will need to satisfy Smith of his fitness.
Smith said: "Robbo' isn't having the best of times with injuries but we'll be
checking on him. Chris Armstrong was on the bench on Sunday but looking at how
hard the ground is today we'll have to make sure he can train without doing any
damage."
Police have made Saturday's game a 1pm kick-off and are also insisting Wrexham make it ticket-only which means fans must get them before arriving at turnstiles.
Wrexham chief executive David Rhodes said today: "Since the piece in last night's Evening Leader, we have had queues here virtually ever since.
Tickets are going well and up to close of business last night, Sheffield Wednesday had also sold 1,000 tickets. They hope to sell their full allocation of 3,000 tickets before Saturday."
