Kevin has faith in his strikers

15 December 2004

By NICK HARRISON

KEVIN RUSSELL today claimed that Wrexham are not alone in their fight to turn possession into goals.

The Reds inabilty to hit the back of the net on a regular basis this season has been a problem for the management team of manager Denis Smith and right-hand man Russell.

But Russell, a prolific marksman during his Racecourse playing career, said today: "I went to the Liverpool v Portsmouth game last night and Liverpool have got exactly the same problem.

"Clubs can experience this problem at all levels - and it showed last night. Liverpool had so much possession and only had only one goal to show for it.

"It's been the same for us, but I've got total confidence that come the end of the season our four strikers will all be among the goals."

PRESSURE

Hector Sam, who has been in and out of the side this season, is Wrexham's leading scorer with seven goals. Defender and Trinidad team-mate, Dennis Lawrence is next with six.

But Russell and Smith are not piling all the the pressure on their frontmen to come up with the goods.

Smith said: "We need to score more goals from all over the field. The midfielders need to score more in particular.

"We have shooting practice every day in training and the lads can't miss, but it's totally different in a game."

Wrexham's tally of 23 goals in 21 league games is two more than bottom club Stockport - and Smith and Russell hope they will improve on that, starting at home to Hartlepool on Saturday.

Smith could have the bonus of welcoming back three players for the clash with Pool.

Skipper Darren Ferguson is free from suspension, defender Craig Morgan has recovered from injury and the versatile Jim Whitley could be back for his first game for two months.

Yet the down side is that Shaun Pejic is suspended and Brian Carey could now face more surgery to clear up a troublesome knee injury. That will keep him out until the New Year when Wrexham fans should see the long-awaited return of Carlos Edwards.

Edwards is 'flying' according to Reds boss Smith, but specialists are adamant that Wrexham's star player must not return until January.

So with Edwards, Carey, Dean Bennett and Danny Williams all set to return in the New Year, Wrexham's squad will be boosted as they start 2005 in a relegation dogfight.

Assistant boss Russell is convinced Wrexham will get out of it - especially if the club wins its appeal against the ten points deduction.

"We've done well," said Russell. "We'd be in a decent mid-table position but for the deduction.

"I think we've just got to remain positive and not to get too bothered at looking at the League One table all the time."

Russell, who along with Wrexham and Liverpool legend Joey Jones, helped highlight the Wrexham Supporters' Trust fighting fund at Anfield last night, said he enjoyed the occasion.

"It's enjoyable to go and watch a match and not go through the pressures of 90 minutes on the touch-line," said ex-Pompey star Russell.

"The fans were great and hopefully they raised a lot of money for the fans funds."

Jones was making his first return to Anfield since a Liverpool v Sunderland match when Stan Collymore was still playing for The Reds.

Jones, who received a great reception from the Anfield faithful, said: "It's good of Liverpool to let us do this. Kev and I received Liverpool and Portsmouth shirts in front of the dug-out at half-time, and it's always good to go back there."