It's Results that Count for Reds

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

23 December 2005

DAVE BAYLISS faces former club Rochdale on Boxing Day insisting it is results and not performances that count.

The 30-year-old centre-back spent seven seasons at Rochdale before joining Luton Town, the club he left in the summer to head to The Racecourse.

Having become a regular in the Wrexham back-three this season, Bayliss is frustrated that the Reds have not been able to convert impressive performances into victories.

But Bayliss said even if performances are below par, it is results that count and there is room for improvement as the Reds continue their push for promotion against Dale at The Racecourse.

"We have been far too inconsistent, giving silly goals away and not scoring enough ourselves. There have been 22 league matches so far this season and I would say there have been only about five games where we have played really well for all 90 minutes," said Bayliss.

"In away matches, we seem to be doing okay for 60 minutes and then something stupid happens. But we are eighth in the table and still up there.

"However, if we win 1-0 away and we are awful, the main thing is that we have got three points. At the end of the season, no-one looks at how well you have played, just where your results and where you are in the league.

"We need to nick a few 1-0 victories and be more nasty. It really winds me up when people say we were unlucky not to win after playing well?'

Bayliss believes that Wrexham need to embark on an unbeaten run stretching into double figures in their quest for at least a play-off place.

But Bayliss, who had a loan-spell at Chester City last season, Wrexham's opponents next Wednesday, also acknowledged that individual mistakes must become a thing of the past.

"We need to start being more consistent so we can put a decent unbeaten run together of 10-15 matches and I think we are capable of that," said Bayliss.

"We know that, we are not being cut apart by teams. It is individual mistakes from goalkeeper to the forwards which has cost us and we need to cut them out. We know we can improve in that department and if we do, we will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season."

Having progressed through the ranks at Spotland, Bayliss made his debut in 1995 and went on to play more than 200 matches for Dale.

Bayliss has fond memories of his time at Rochdale under Steve Parkin and expects a few familiar faces to be in the crowd on Boxing Day when eighth place Wrexham take on his former club who are just two points ahead of the Reds.

"I am really looking forward to the game," added Bayliss.

"I was at Rochdale for seven years, I made a lot of good friends and they will be at the game on Monday. I really enjoyed playing for Steve Parkin, who in back for his second spell as Rochdale boss. Steve was one of the best managers I have played for."

Just two points separate Wrexham and Boxing Day opponents Rochdale ahead of a busy Christmas period in the fixture list.

"Dale are in seventh place in the League Two table, just one place above the Reds ahead of their visit to the Racecourse Ground and manger Denis Smith was expecting a tough encounter.

"They've just hit a blip in form which is pleasing for us," he said.