Daily Post

Stick with us

Mark Currie
By Mark Currie, Daily Post

07/12/04

Denis SmithWREXHAM begin their battle against relegation this evening, but manager Denis Smith has played down suggestions they are facing a must-win clash with rock-bottom Stockport County at the Racecourse.

Docked 10 points following Friday's move into administration, the Dragons find themselves third from bottom and four points adrift of Blackpool, the club immediately above them in the League One table.

But the Racecourse boss says nothing more is at stake tonight than in any other match.

"I've been around long enough to know there is no such thing as a sixpointer as this stage of the season," he said yesterday.

"There are 27 games to go yet and tomorrow provides us with an opportunity to pick up three points. And on Saturday at Milton Keynes Dons we'll be in exactly the same situation again.

"I would be happy to lose both those games, as long as we then went on to win the next 20." Urging the club's supporters to stick with his players, Smith warned that a climb away from the danger zone could take some time, pointing out that several key members of the squad are still some way from full fitness.

Alex Smith - sidelined since the beginning of November - is being lined up for a reserve team outing at Burnley tomorrow and Dean Bennett is expected to resume training next week.

Brian Carey and Jim Whitley have both suffered setbacks and Danny Williams and Carlos Edwards are not expected to be in action again until the new year.

"We are still missing a lot of those who would normally be first choice and, in saying that, I'm not deriding the players who have stepped in to do the job," added Smith.

"When we get players back we'll find out if we are good enough to climb up the table.

"Nevertheless, I hope we get a decent crowd tomorrow because it's been hard work for everyone - players and staff alike - in the past few weeks.

"Given the number of games we've been playing it's difficult to remain fresh mentally and the lack of numbers has made it difficult to work on everything we would like on the training ground."

The absence from training yesterday of captain Darren Ferguson, who needed emergency dental treatment for a painful wisdom tooth, illustrated Smith's frustration as he rehearsed his squad for the threat liable to come from tonight's visitors.

Wrexham's midfield lynchpin will be suspended for Saturday's trip to Milton Keynes after collecting his fifth caution of the season at Scunthorpe United on Friday evening but the Dragons boss - who has also lost defender Craig Morgan to a hamstring strain - is confident Ferguson will play this evening.

And he is expecting a positive response from his players, despite the double disappointment of Friday's events, both on and off the field of play.

"A win would help to lift everyone's spirits again," he said.

"There have been a lot of rumours flying around over the weekend but Alex Hamilton still owns the club and until that is resolved it will be out on the pitch where we can lift some of the gloom."

Stockport County have almost as many injuries as the Dragons, their latest casualties including goalkeeper James Spencer and striker Warren Feeney - both substituted during Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup draw with Swansea City.