By Mark Currie, Daily Post
24 December 2007
NEARLY
200 Wrexham fans swapped the dubious pleasures of Christmas shopping for the
equally arduous prospect of watching the beleaguered Dragons trying to climb a
mountain of expectation at high-flying Rotherham United on Saturday.
And despite witnessing a third successive defeat and another three goals flying
past keeper Anthony Williams, on balance they may possibly believe they made the
right choice because there were clear signs that manager Brian Little is at last
beginning to bring order and discipline to bear in the Racecourse camp.
But not even the most gifted of bosses can legislate for a moment of madness
such as that committed by midfielder Matt Crowell barely 13 minutes into the
match when he was sent off following a two-footed lunge on Millers’ debutant Ian
Ross, who is on loan from Sheffield United.
Calculated and vicious it was not – indeed Crowell appeared to have won the ball
cleanly – but stupid and ill-advised it most certainly was, particularly since
such challenges have dominated the back pages of most newspapers during the past
few days.
And youthful referee Gavin Ward had no hesitation in reaching for his back
pocket as Ross milked the incident for all it was worth before somehow managing
to soldier on for the remainder of the match.
Unfortunately, though, it was an accident waiting to happen for Crowell, who has
previous history of losing his head.
Given a rare and unexpected Wales under-21 outing a couple of years ago, he
suffered a similar fate early on in the proceedings and again on Saturday he was
clearly under pressure to perform, given that it was his first start since
October and his contract runs out next week.
What made it all the more galling was that the early indications had been
promising, Wrexham employing an adventurous 4-3-3 starting line-up with Crowell
deployed as the holding man to allow team-mates Mark Jones and Sam Aiston to
push on whenever possible.
But his rush of blood to the head put Wrexham firmly on the back foot for the
rest of the afternoon and obviously prompted post-match questions about the
midfield man’s future at the club.
Sensibly, Little avoided the issue and said afterwards: "There’s a million other
things in my mind at the moment.
"I gave Matt a chance today because of the way he’s been on the training ground.
He’s trained very well, he’s been spot-on and his attitude has been good.
"In the system we played today he has worked ever so well. As you know we played
Everton reserves in the week and he sat in there and did a great job for us.
"The two other midfielders also linked in well, but the sending off today made
it difficult for Mark Jones, who likes to get forward."
Nevertheless the Racecourse boss was clearly encouraged by the spirit displayed
by his 10-man team and, despite their numerical disadvantage they managed to
give their opponents plenty to think about, even though it reduced Wrexham’s
prospects of taking something positive from the game after a bright start that
caught the home side cold.
Twice in the opening five minutes Rotherham were stretched at the back, notably
when Chris Llewellyn beat the offside trap and crossed with enough pace to
surprise both Neil Roberts and Michael Proctor who were arriving in the six-yard
box.
When the Millers hit back, Stephen Brogan proving a threat from the left flank,
battle was properly joined and Wrexham were fortunate that when Graham
Coughlan’s header rebounded from the bar, Williams was well-placed to hold a
shot from Derek Holmes.
Crowell’s premature departure saw a Dragons’ reshuffle with Roberts and
Llewellyn dropping back into midfield and leaving Proctor on his own, but even
so Steve Evans had a chance to score, heading wide from a Jones free kick.
The Dragons, showing more defensive strength than has been the case in recent
outings, continued to frustrate their opponents until five minutes before the
break when Brogan nipped between Evans and Wes Baynes to pick out Danny Harrison
on the edge of the penalty area.
His shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to Holmes, who hammered it into
the net, much to the relief of home manager Mark Robins, who admitted his side
had struggled to break down the visitors’ defence.
"I thought Wrexham defended very well, they threw their bodies in front of the
ball and got blocks and tackles in and they threatened a couple of times coming
forward as well," said boss Robins afterwards.
It certainly was not totally comfortable for the home side after the break as
Little changed his system again, pushing Roberts forward alongside Proctor.
And Wrexham probably shaded the opening 20 minutes of the second period as they
pressed forward in the hunt for an equaliser.
Proctor laid on an excellent opening for Jones, who snatched at the ball to
drive it wide of Andy Warrington’s goal and Aiston surged from halfway in the
67th minute, only to be foiled at the death by an excellent save from the
keeper.
Spirited as it was, though, Wrexham’s defiant battle against the odds simply ran
out of steam and after Ross was denied by a save from Williams the writing was
on the wall.
But the visitors’ defence, in which Evans was a solid and inspirational bulwark,
held out until 18 minutes from the end when Brogan made ground on the left and
crossed to the far post for an unmarked Holmes to double his tally.
Rotherham’s third goal, in the 83rd minute, was again due to lack of cover at
the back when the Dragons were chasing the game and substitute Marc Newsham took
full advantage to drill a powerful effort past Williams.
But, unlike the previous week’s surrender to Brentford at the Racecourse,
Little’s players can take plenty of positives from a performance that hints at
better times to come as long as their battling and encouraging display does not
prove to be a flash in the pan.
Man of the match: Steve Evans – if anyone needed a performance it was the
big defender and he delivered.
Villain of the match: Only one contender for this, miscreant Matty
Crowell, whose dismissal cost the Dragons dear.
Moan of the match: Referee Gavin Ward became a touch too card-happy as
the game wore on.
Magic moment: Wes Baynes attacking down the flank – the youngster is a
real find.
Rotherham United: Warrington; Mills, Coughlan, Sharps, Brogan; Joseph,
Harrison (Tonge 44), Taylor (Newsham 70), Ross; O’Grady, Holmes (Yates 86).
Subs: Oxley, Todd.
Booked: Sharps.
Wrexham: Williams 7; Baynes 7, Hope 7, S Evans 8, Valentine 6; Aiston 6,
Mark Jones 6 (Johnson 79), Crowell 3; Roberts 7, Llewellyn 6, Proctor 7. Subs:
Michael Jones, Pejic, G Evans, Mike Williams.
Sent off Crowell; booked S Evans, Llewellyn.
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).
Attendance: 3,773.