By Mark Currie, Daily Post
27 October 2005
DEFENDER
Andy Holt, whose late equaliser earned Wrexham a point in their 1-1 draw at
Peterborough United on Tuesday, said he and his team-mates had to accept the
blame for lapses that have seen the Dragons concede seven goals in three away
games.
A textbook error saw Wrexham fall behind at London Road and, though Holt was
pleased to rack up his second goal of the season, he admitted there was plenty
or room for improvement.
"It's been a while since I got on the scoresheet but more importantly we got a
point from the game," he said..
"We were at sixes and sevens again for their goal. We weren't in a straight line
and there was lots of room behind us. If we'd been right, their lad would have
been offside, but we weren't so it was another sloppy one from our point of
view.
"We need to tighten up and if we can do that we know we are going to score goals
and win our games."
Manager Denis Smith has rarely been able to stick with a settled last line of
defence so far this season but Holt added: "I don't really want to make excuses
because we've got a lot of experienced players who should be able to play
wherever they are asked to.
"At the start of the season we weren't conceding many goals and we've got to get
back to that. But our confidence is not dented because our home form is
fantastic and we need to concentrate on that for Saturday."
Smith also emphasised the need to work harder on the training ground.
"We can't go on defending the way we are and you wouldn't think I used to be a
defender or that we've got experienced players back there," he said.
"Peterborough's goal was embarrassing and we've got to deal with that. We dealt
with the problems we had on Saturday, but perhaps overdid things to make the
mistakes we did here and that should not happen.
"I thought we had the better of the play until they scored and we then looked
rocky for a while, but early in the second half we had the better chances before
they came back again."
Smith insisted his players would learn the required lessons in the coming weeks
and added: "I know I've had a go at them recently but they are a great set of
lads and they want to win.
"They know they are making mistakes, but they are not happy with it and they are
desperate to win. It's my job to make sure they know their jobs and at the
moment there's a few of them falling down.
"The lads' attitude was first class again and while there's work to be done to
get us where I want, we are not that far away considering we are not happy with
the way we are playing.
"We know we can do a lot better but if I get negative people in the dressing
room they won't be playing.
"I said at the beginning of the season that if we were in the top 10 in January,
we'd have a chance of getting there. We're not even in November yet but I
believe I know how to push things through from that position.
"It's an approach which generally works if you've got the bottle to do it. I've
got the bottle and I've got to make sure the players have it too."