Move is a change for the better

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

31 December 2007

BRIAN LITTLE today admitted the reason for Wrexham switching changing rooms at The Racecourse was logistical.

Wrexham emerged from the old away team's dressing rooms for the first time on Saturday but went down to a 1-0 defeat against Stockport County.

And manager Little said the decision to alter changing rooms was to improve Wrexham's approach to a match, and was not down to superstition following the Reds' poor run of form.

"I think it is logistically the best thing for me to do," said Little today. "I have an office down there and we have got a treatment room there.

"We have got a big dressing room down here that every person under the sun gets in before the game.

"So from my point of view I have now got a dressing room that I have got my players in, a room that my staff can go in and a room that my physio can go in.

"It means I am more organised. I have been able to organise my staff better, they know exactly what they have to do, and they know when they've done their job, they get out of the dressing room. It is not big enough for everybody to be in.

"We were in an area where there is a massive corridor where everybody gathers outside, and too often I feel we are not focussed on the game. Our performance showed we were more focussed on the game.

"It certainly was not one of those quirky little things. Logistics said to me that it is the best place for us to be."

Wrexham had the best of the chances but were sunk by 59th minute goal from Stockport substitute Anthony Elding.

The Reds had a chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty following a handball offence but Ryan Valentine's penalty was saved, meaning he has now missed his last two spot kicks.

And Little, who had earlier seen Neil Roberts denied by an excellent save from Stockport keeper Conrad Logan, bemoaned his side's inability to put away their chances.

"I think more often than not Neil would score from there," said Little. "He is only two or three yards out max. I think the ball might have held up a little bit, he did not get the power on the header he would have liked.

"It sort of cushioned off his head, but it was still a good save by the keeper. If you had 10 of them in the same position you would certainly put nine away so it is disappointing.

"It is difficult to criticise Ryan. I understand at the end of last season he stepped up and took a penalty that was probably the most important penalty the club has had for a long time and whacked it in.

"He stood up again and had a go. But I think more often than not people should score penalties.

"At half-time we said we will get a chance and if we win 1-0, great. We were talking about grinding out a result and we have almost done that.

"We could argue that we have the three best chances in the game – Sam Aiston had a real lash at the ball in the first half. And the one goal they have scored is poor."

Wrexham, bottom of the League Two table, ended 2007 with a run of five consecutive defeats.

But Little believes his side deserved to get something out of Saturday's encounter and paid the price for a poor five minute spell.

"I think we should have got a result today," said Little. "That is probably the first time I have been able to say that for a while so I am obviously disappointed because I think we should have won.

"I think we could have won. We had a great chance at the start of the second half then missed a penalty.

"And the goal we conceded was one of those now infamous five minute mad spells that we have.

"Young Wes Baynes made a mistake on the edge of the box and for five minutes we were all over the place, but for the rest of the game we were alright.

"I genuinely felt we could win and I am very disappointed we didn't. I am more disappointed than the other games because we did enough to get a result."

Little, looking to bring in fresh faces when they transfer window reopens tomorrow, added: "I genuinely don't know how many because I have to try and change things, and I have to try and change as much as I can."