| Wrexham look to end a run of seven straight
defeats with a difficult trip to the in form Grimsby who have moved
clear of the relegation zone in recent weeks.
Confidence at the Racecourse must be at rock bottom at
the moment after we let slip a two goal advantage at Llanelli in midweek
with the Welsh Premier side running out 4-2 winners in extra time.
Grimsby, on the other hand, have recorded four
straight victories in all competitions and these nine points have
enabled the Mariners to enter the calmer waters of fifteenth position
with thirty points from their twenty-five games.
Grimsby's form has picked up since the end of November and
since then they have recorded six wins out of their last nine games with
their only two defeats coming in home games against Darlington and
Accrington.
One glimmer of hope is that Grimsby have failed to win
a game when falling behind but we equal this record and have only come
back once to collect one point when trailing in a game, against Chester
in November.
Grimsby have had a quiet month since the transfer
window opened with no new faces arriving at Blundell Park but manager
Alan Buckley has made the loan move of Walsall striker Martin Butler
permanent and extended defender Robert Atkinson's loan from Barnsley for
another month.
Grimsby defeated Stockport 2-1 in the area semi-final
of the Johnstones Paint Trophy in midweek and now face Morecambe in the
two legged area final but Buckley has banned all talk of a Wembley final
ahead of this game.
Top goal scorer for the Mariners is striker Danny
North with five goals in all competitions but the Mariners do have
four other players on four goals.
Recent Encounters:
Grimsby ran out 2-1 winners in the same fixture last
season with Ciaran Toner scoring an injury time winner after Lee
McEvilly had given us a first half lead.
Our last win at Bludnell Park was back in January 2004
when Chris Llewellyn, Steve Thomas and Chris Armstrong scored in a 3-1
win.
Grimsby just edge the head-to-head in the league with 21 wins to our 20
and there have been 11 draws in the 52 league games between the two
sides.
Team News:
Steve Evans is available for Wrexham despite his
midweek sending off at Llanelli but his suspension is only restricted to
FAW Premier Cup games.
Chris Llewellyn is out suspended after picking up his
fifth booking of the season on New Year's Day but recent signings Danny
Sonner and Paul Hall go straight into the squad.
The main injury concerns are midfielder Sam Aiston and
defender Richard Hope who have both been suffering with ankle knocks.
Grimsby are without defender Ryan Bennett after the
defender collected his fifth booking of the season last weekend and Sam
Hird is expected to be the only change for the Mariners as his
replacement on the right hand side of the back three.
Hird is available along with striker Martin Butler
after both players were cup tied in midweek.
The Mariners should also have Ciaran Toner available again on
the bench after the midfielder missed the last five games with a
hamstring injury.
Elsewhere in League Two:
Mansfield are just one point ahead of us in the table
and they travel to Chester who are only four points adrift of the play
offs.
Dagenham & Redbridge are our next target but they have
opened a six point safety net and they travel to fellow league new
comers Morecambe, whilst Lincoln face a difficult task when they entertain third
placed Rotherham. |
