By RICHARD WILLIAMS
30 November 2005
DARREN
FERGUSON is enjoying playing in Wrexham's new look system.
The Scottish midfielder, who will skipper the side in tomorrow's clash against
League Two leaders Grimsby Town at The Racecourse tomorrow (3pm kick-off), has
been given a licence to get forward more by manager Denis Smith.
Reds' boss Smith, dealing with the loss of Lee McEvilly who could be out for up
to two months with a stress fracture of the foot, is urging Ferguson and leading
scorer Mark Jones to get forward as much as possible and link up with the Reds'
strikeforce.
The ploy worked on Boxing Day, Wrexham's last outing because of Wednesday's
postponed derby clash at Chester City, as Ferguson grabbed a glorious winner as
Wrexham beat Rochdale 2-1.
And Ferguson, who has scored three goals this season, is delighted to get more
goalscoring opportunities.
"With Lee being injured I think that if Mark and myself can get forward to help
Jon Walters then it is a system that will help us," Ferguson said today. "We can
create as many chances and it is up to us to get forward and hopefully we can
get on the end of them.
MOVEMENT
"Robbie Foy and Dean Bennett both had 45 minutes against Rochdale and they also
give us other options without Lee. But we don't just want to rely on the
strikers getting goals.
"With me and Mark playing between attack and midfield, it is hard to pick us up.
The movement caused problems in the second half and Rochdale could not cope with
it.
"I was happy with my goal. I caught it well and was one of the best I have ever
scored."
Smith also echoed his influential skipper's sentiments about sharing goals
around the team rather than relying on the Reds' strikers, particularly in the
absence of McEvilly who was in a rich vein of form before his foot injury.
"Lee McEvilly's injury is a major problem for us but we are getting goals from
numerous positions, Darren's was a great goal and Matty Crowell has got two in
the last two games," Smith said today.
"Mark Jones' goals seem to have dried up and with Lee out, we need to get goals
from anywhere we can. It is important not to rely on one person. If that person
was to get injured you have a problem. You need to spread the goals around.
Grimsby come to The Racecourse defending the best away record in League Two,
having won seven matches, drawn three and lost just the once.
On the other hand, Wrexham boast the best home record - but Smith knows Russell
Slade's side will be no pushovers.
"I have been told that Grimsby have good pace and size, they are going well and
that says a lot about them," said Smith.
"They will be tough opponents to beat and have the best away record. Put that
against our home record and it sets itself up for a heck of a game."
Wrexham go into the match seventh in the table and Smith is hoping his side can
maintain their bid for promotion in the New Year.
"I said I wanted us to be in the top ten at the turn of the year and for us to
push on from there. I am expecting a better second half to the season than the
first, what with all the injury problems we have had. But we are still up there
and it sets us up nicely."
Smith names an unchanged squad for the visit of Grimsby and has to decide
whether Foy or Bennett will start in attack alongside Walters.
Michael Ingham lines up in goal, Lee Roche and Andy Holt will fill the wing-back
positions, and it is likely that Danny Williams will continue in the heart of
the Reds' defence alongside Dennis Lawrence and Dave Bayliss. And that means
Ferguson, Jones and Crowell will fill the midfield once again.
Jim Whitley and Shaun Pejic - both back following serious knee injuries - Mike
Williams, Paul Warhurst, Simon Spender and goalkeeper Michael Jones are also
included in the squad, as will Alex Smith be if he recovers from illness.