DENIS Smith takes Wrexham into next week's double Christmas cracker insisting - this is what British football is all about.

The Dragons welcome Rochdale to the Racecourse on Boxing Day before the big one two days later at Chester City.

Manager Smith said: 'I'm looking forward to them, but the one I've got to concentrate on is the next match - and that's Rochdale at home.

'I know it's Chester, so I know it's the one all the fans are looking forward to. But Rochdale is the one I've got to concentrate on.

'The atmosphere at Christmas matches is always fantastic.

'I'm against the idea of a winter break because these games are part of the tradition of British football.'

Like the Dragons, both Rochdale and Chester lurk on the edge of automatic promotion.

And like the Dragons, they go into the games on the back of inconsistent runs of form.

Smith's men went down to 2-1 at Carlisle United on Saturday.

For the fifth time on the road this season, Wrexham couldn't hold on to a lead.

Referee Jonathan Moss failed to dismiss Chris Lumsdon when he professionally fouled Darren Ferguson.

And though the resulting spot-kick was converted by Matt Crowell, Lumsdon slotted home a late penalty.

Moss's decision infuriated boss Smith, who felt goalkeeper Michael Ingham had cleanly won the ball from United striker Karl Hawley.

He said: 'I've looked at our goal and the lad should have been sent off.

'Their winner was never a penalty. And even then, the lad who took it should not have been on the field.

'That's the last two away games that we feel we've been hard done by the officials. They're only human, and everyone makes mistakes, but that makes it no easier.'

One crumb of comfort was the return of Andy Holt.

Despite playing only 45 minutes of reserve-team football since his return from a knee-injury, last season's Player of the Year did enough to suggest he could be back in the starting line-up for Rochdale.