Wrexham Evening Leader

Smith still upbeat despite Luton defeat
By Richard Williams

8/11/04

Denis SmithDENIS SMITH was staying positive despite Wrexham's 5-1 defeat at Luton Town on Saturday, writes RICHARD WILLIAMS.

The Reds' boss saw his side's seven game unbeaten run come to an end at the League One leaders.

Seven first team players were out injured for Wrexham while off-the-field problems leave an air of uncertainty hanging over the club.

Smith is not worried about Wrexham's season - as long as the club can come through the next couple of weeks unscathed. Wrexham face a winding up order over an unpaid tax bill on November 17.

Smith said: "It's going to be difficult until the situation changes. The injuries we've got out are long term injuries and until I can get to the situation where I can possibly bring somebody in, hopefully that will be sooner rather than later as long as we've got a club around for us to do that.

"I don't worry too much about our season if we can get over this next couple of weeks. That's the first achievement.

"Get over this next couple of weeks, make sure there's a club.

"With the winding up order coming on November 17, we need to make sure that we've still got a side here playing football first."

Smith knew it would be difficult to get a result at leaders Luton with so many players on the sidelines.

"If you come to a club going as well as this, and as physical as this, you need your team out. I had 12 fit players and I think we're asking a lot for the lads to come down here and get a result.

"We tried, had a few chances, nearly as many as they did, but we finished up with a non contract player and two YTS lads playing.

"We're playing top of the league; you can't be playing a team at the top of the league with that sort of team and expect to win. I needed my first team out to give us the opportunity of get the right result. Hopefully when we play them again we will."

Smith had to lift his players as they were in at the break 4-0 behind. He now must prepare his beleaguered side for tomorrow's trip to Blackpool.

Dennis Lawrence took a knock in the back and Smith was assessing his injury ahead of the trip to the seaside.

* Supporters are being warned not to use the normal routes to Bloomfield Road - for a full list of directions see tomorrow's Evening Leader.