By RICHARD WILLIAMS
22 December 2006
“NO
IFS or buts, I’m looking for all 12 points” was the message loud and clear
coming out of the Racecourse Ground today from Denis Smith as he leads his
injury stricken side into the busy Christmas period.
Wrexham have four League Two games
in just 10 days over the festive period starting with the visit of Darlington
tomorrow.
Following the visit of the Quakers, Wrexham face two short trips – to Rochdale
on Boxing Day and Hereford United the following Saturday, before hosting
Accrington Stanley on New Year’s Day.
And the hectic Christmas schedule culminates when the Reds travel for an FA Cup
Third Round clash with Derby County at Pride Park.
“We’ve got four games coming very quickly and I want to win all four,” said a
defiant Smith. “Why should I say we might win one and draw another, when there
are 12 points on offer and we need all 12.
“No ifs or buts, I want to come away from New Year with four wins.”
Starting tomorrow Smith admitted it will be the same squad available for
selection that secured a 1-1 draw last week at home against runaway leaders
Walsall, and Smith said: “It’ll be the same squad as last week purely because I
haven’t any other players available.
“Chris got another goal last week, I think that’s five in six games. The lad is
scoring goals and to be fair he could have won the game for us last week. But
he’s missed two easier chances and then stuck that one away.”
Llewellyn’s strike sailed into the top corner of the net in front of the Kop,
but on second glance appeared to take a crucial deflection off a Saddlers
defender to fly past former Wrexham stopper Clayton Ince.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Smith. “It was still a great strike.
“I didn’t bring Chris in as a striker, I had him in mind at as a midfielder or
to play out wide, because I felt I had enough up front with Neil Roberts, Lee
McEvilly and Juan Ugarte, but that’s not worked out too well.
“But he’s started scoring goals and you can’t complain about that.”
Llewellyn’s likely strike partner will be youngster Marc Williams, 18, the
younger brother of Reds defender Mike.
Williams played a full 90 minutes last week in the draw with Walsall and laid
the ball off for Llewellyn’s equaliser, and Smith said: “Marc’s a good target
man and can bring other people into the game. His goalscoring record isn’t the
best, but he helps us to keep hold of the ball up front.
“He’s only young, and it’s not ideal for us, because what we need is players
with experience.”
Definitely out of tomorrow’s game is midfielder Mark Jones after the Welsh
international underwent surgery on a troublesome knee earlier in the week; and
fellow Welsh international Steve Evans is serving the second of a four match ban
after being sent off against Boston.
Tomorrow could be an ideal time to play the Quakers as they go into the game on
the back of four successive defeats, and with newly appointed manager Dave
Penney admitting his honeymoon period at the club had worn off.
Smith said: “They’ve lost the last four games, but we know they’re very good
going forward and have a very good attack.
“We’ve got to defend well tomorrow, and it’s important to keep a clean sheet,
but we have got to start scoring more goals.”