By Mark Currie, Daily Post
31 December 2007
IF
it weren’t for the trifling fact that Wrexham have ended the year at the bottom
of the Football League, their long-suffering fans might take solace from the
knowledge that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
For while the Dragons went down to a fifth straight defeat in Saturday’s 1-0
home clash with Stockport County, their League Two rivals Bury made it six
losses on the bounce against Dagenham & Redbridge at Gigg Lane.
And, although Wrexham goals have been a pretty rare commodity at the Racecourse
thus far this season – it’s a whole fortnight since Chris Llewellyn found the
net against Brentford – spare a thought for Portsmouth supporters who haven’t
had a goal to cheer at Fratton Park since way back in September.
Cold comfort though it may be, such straw-clutching comes as naturally to fans
in times of trouble as the blind faith that better times lie ahead and the storm
clouds that whirled around the Racecourse at the weekend were perhaps symbolic
of the winds of change that manager Brian Little is promising to unleash in the
New Year.
Already in the period since his appointment the new boss has demonstrated his
willingness to think outside the box, the latest example of which came on
Saturday when he installed his players in the dressing room that for the past 35
years has been reserved for visiting teams.
His recognition, too, that defender Ryan Valentine could be the player to
provide stability and steel in what has long been a soft centre midfield is
further evidence that he has brought a fresh perspective to the task of pulling
the club away from the foot of the table.
Valentine’s redeployment, in common with the switches in recent weeks of Neil
Roberts and Steve Evans to unfamiliar roles, could be viewed by some as acts of
desperation.
The more likely answer though is that Little is seeking a better insight into
the character and flexibility of players who will probably have a part to play
in his future plans, which will gather momentum when the transfer window
re-opens this week.
Speaking in the aftermath of the latest defeat, the Dragons boss said: "I think
five weeks into the job I’m more aware of so many things that have to be done
and I’m beginning to implement the changes.
"It’s taken me a bit of time to get to know people, but today was the start of
something I had hoped would be a good result.
"I really don’t know how many players we need to bring in. I have to try and
change things and probably change as much as I can. But we have a basis of some
good players here."
And he made a point of praising Valentine’s contribution to the team’s
performance, diminished though it was by a penalty miss that cost Wrexham at
least the point they deserved from their endeavours.
"I felt for Ryan today," he added. "I asked him to do a job for me and he played
really well but the penalty miss has spoiled his day for him.
"His performance was good, he settled us down in the middle of the park because
he’s a calm character and he’s been around a bit and knows the game. Just
sticking him in there made a difference for us."
Valentine himself revealed he learned of his new role only in the dressing room
before the game.
"We didn’t do any work on the shape yesterday and the gaffer didn’t pull me
aside and tell me about it but I thought I did okay over the 90 minutes," he
said.
"Obviously I missed the penalty, which was disappointing, but looking at the
bigger picture I felt it went alright. I missed a penalty earlier in the season
against Wycombe so I thought this one was a chance to put things right.
"I was happy enough to take another penalty, but unfortunately for me, for the
team and for the fans it didn’t go in. Other than that there was a lot more
determination in the performance, we battled well and if continue to do that I
believe we will be okay."
Wrexham’s fans, who most definitely felt short-changed by the team’s Boxing Day
display against Rochdale, had no complaints this time round and it was
significant that County manager Jim Gannon made a show of shaking the hand of
each of Little’s players at the end of the game.
He knew, as did the visiting supporters, that Wrexham had been the better side
for long periods of a game dominated by the squally conditions.
Inspired by a live-wire first half performance from Llewellyn, who went close
from 25 yards, the Dragons were found wanting only in the final third, their
inability to make the breakthrough summed up by a 44th minute goalmouth scramble
in which two or three efforts failed to break County’s stubborn resistance.
But an explosive start to the second period signalled a significant step-up in
gear. From the restart Wes Baynes got behind the visitors’ defence and his cross
was met by Roberts, whose close-range header was somehow turned for a corner by
goalkeeper Conrad Logan.
No matter how good the save, though, it was a costly miss and Wrexham were
fortunate not to go behind in the 57th minute when substitute Adam Griffin’s
spectacular overhead kick presented Liam Dickinson with an opening that he fired
over the bar.
But County maintained the pressure and were rewarded two minutes later when
Griffin drove the ball into the penalty area where fellow replacement Anthony
Elding was on hand to steer it into the far corner of the net.
Thereafter it was the same old story for the Dragons, who huffed and puffed in
the search for an equaliser without success, an Evans header typically inching
just wide.
And their wretched fortune in front of goal was summed up when Logan saved
Valentine’s tamely-struck spot-kick with 14 minutes remaining after Michael
Raynes had been harshly penalised for handling.