Video nasty leaves Smith disappointed
By Mark Currie, Daily Post
25 October 2005
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We are giving away too many silly free kicks and then we are cutting off defensively
Denis Smith |
WREXHAM manager Denis Smith is set to call
upon experienced defender Paul Warhurst to help end his side's away-day blues
when they visit Peterborough United this evening.
Without a win on the road since April - nine games in all - the Dragons have
kept only one clean sheet since their victory against Stockport County at
Edgelely Park last season and the Racecourse boss reckons that slipshod
defending has cost the club at least nine points since the current campaign got
under way.
"At Bury, at Leyton Orient and on Saturday against Bristol Rovers these were
games we should have won," he said.
"So we've seen nine points go down the drain and that's no exaggeration.
"We are giving away too many silly free kicks and then we are cutting off
defensively either though tiredness or being under pressure."
Warhurst, who has not started for five matches, is in line for a recall with
Smith admitting that something has to change and the former Premiership man
could join Dave Bayliss and Dennis Lawrence in a back three, with Andy Holt
reverting to a more familiar wing-back role.
"We have enough experienced players to go on and win games 1-0 but at the moment
both Andy and Dennis are playing out of position because of the problems we've
had with injuries," he added.
"However, we should be capable of dealing with that and if that's not the case,
we obviously need to be winning 3-0 with five minutes to go."
Saturday's late collapse, which saw Rovers snatch victory in the final few
minutes, left Smith in an apoplectic mood at the final whistle and his demeanour
had not much improved yesterday.
"I've looked at the match video and can't believe some of the things I'm seeing,
because they are all aspects of defending that we've talked about and worked
upon," he went on..
"I had expected to take four points from the games on Saturday and tomorrow and
I'm still extremely annoyed that's not now going to be possible.
"The most frustrating thing of all is that we've been playing pretty well away
from home and, with the exception of the match at Wycombe, we've more or less
controlled all of them."
The Dragons boss confessed he had also analysed his own contribution to
Saturday's defeat.
"I was in the process of putting Paul Warhurst on the field to close the game
down when they scored their first goal," he said..
"On the other hand if you put a defender on too early it sends out a negative
message, but perhaps I dithered a bit too long.
"Five minutes earlier might have seen us close it up because Paul is experienced
in that sort of situation."
With striker Juan Ugarte sidelined by a knee injury sustained at the Memorial
Ground, Smith has to choose between Lee McEvilly and Robbie Foy to partner Jon
Walters up front and midfielder Danny Williams faces a fitness test today on a
back strain.
"It's our third away game in the space of a week and Peterborough will be on a
high after their win at the weekend," he said. "But we'll be looking to burst
their bubble and I know we are more than capable of doing that."
Meanwhile Mark Jones, who picked up a fifth booking of the season at the
weekend, will sit out Saturday's home match against Darlington and can expect a
fine from the Dragons boss.
"He's kicked the ball away and there's absolutely no excuse for that," said
Smith. "I know tackling is now frowned upon and players will get booked for
those but a show of petulance like we saw is not something I would expect from
Mark.
"It means I'm going to be without my leading goalscorer on Saturday and I've got
enough problems with players getting injured without losing others through
unnecessary suspensions."
Wrexham's FA Cup first round match at Port Vale has been brought forward to
Friday November 4 (7.45pm) in order to avoid a clash with Stoke City's home game
the following afternoon.
PETERBOROUGH (from): Tyler; Holden, Carden, Burton, Arber, Farrell, Gain,
Newton, St Ledger, Crow, Thorpe, Logan, Benjamin, Semple, Miller, Hand.
WREXHAM (probable): Ingham; Warhurst, Bayliss, Lawrence; Spender, D
Williams, Ferguson, Mark Jones, Holt; Walters, Foy. Subs (from): Michael Jones,
M Wiliams, Smith, McEvilly, Mackin, Crowell.
REFEREE: Mick Russell (Herts).
BETTING (bet365.com): Peterborough (Evens), Wrexham 9/4, Draw 9/4. First
goalscorer: Trevor Benjamin 5/1, Jonathan Walters 7/1, Robbie Foy 7/1.