Little delighted by youngsters

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

05 May 2008

BRIAN LITTLE is delighted with how his young players have responded to being given their chance in the Wrexham first team.

Little continued with his recent policy of giving youngsters a chance to impress against Lincoln City on Saturday and Wrexham recorded a 4-2 victory at Sincil Bank.

Although stressing that they still have a lot to learn, Reds' boss Little was pleased with the development of the players during a difficult period which saw the club relegated from the Football League.

"I said to them at the end that I got us two free-kicks by appealing to the referee," said Little today.

"Little things like that they have got to learn to do. The referee heard me shout 'foul' and we got free-kicks.

"This group was very naive today, but that is good because the last three or four weeks we have thrown them into a situation which not even a seasoned pro wants to handle.

"They won a great game against Notts County and then had to go to Hereford, a really good side, and got an almighty kick up the backside which showed them what the game is about.

"They are relegated and have had to stomach that, and it was good today for them to come here and win a game of football away from home.

"In a very short time they have won home and away a lot quicker than a lot of the so-called first team players did in a longer period – so I am pleased for them.

"We see out there some of them have some use for us over the next few years, while some of them will go elsewhere. But I think the last few weeks has been a great exercise for us."

Two players who have been given their opportunity in recent weeks, Wes Baynes and Levi Macken, grabbed their first goals in a Wrexham shirt, with Chris Llewellyn also on target as Wrexham scored more than twice in a match for the first time all season.

Baynes converted two free-kicks after Mackin had opened the scoring with a header, and Little has been pleased with the duo's contribution: "Wes should score goals. He strikes the ball as well as anybody," said Little.

"I actually shouted for him to shoot from the kick-off, with the wind advantage.

"People can laugh at me and that may be an over exaggeration in what he should do, but he has to have that sort of belief in himself.

"And coming out of the pack, Levi has been a massive boost to us. I think he has played really well these four games.

"We sent him out on loan for a little period into the league we are going into and that's done him the world of good.

"There are others but today those two have done their bit by getting
involved in the goal scoring."

A number of performances pleased Little, who will continue his rebuilding programme over the summer by making a significant number of new signings.

"I look at people like Wes who from day one I thought he had so much ability," said Little.

"But he has got to learn about the game and once he does he is going to be a good player.

"We see Carl Tremarco back in the side and he makes such a difference to us – a solid left back is so important – and Simon Spender did a decent job on the other side with Wes protecting him.

"There are things there that we can build on.

"We still need an influx of new players so the next month or two is going to be very important.

"Most of us need a little bit of a rest but some of us have got an awful lot of work to do, and we have got to do our work well so we are going into a very important phase of the club's future."

But Little was unhappy with the two goals conceded at Lincoln, with Steve Evans conceding an own goal after heading over goalkeeper Gavin Ward: "What about the goals again? We scored four goals but we had to score four to win a match," he said.

"At 2-0 up you think 'let's go and win the game' but we just give the craziest goals away.

"I finish games now and I am shattered. There are an awful lot of negatives. I think at the moment we have got a lot of things to work on.

"There are a few positives but we have not got a shed load of them that's for sure.

"We have had a great result but you can't get carried away. It is a great tonic for everybody but I was at Burton's game against Cambridge and those two are miles better than us at the moment.

"The top six are better than us so through the summer we have got to build a team that can be competitive with them before we get positives in our head.

"We have to get a spirit inside the club. I am not saying we haven't had that, but we do need to get a spirit inside the club that is second to none to give us a chance."

Despite admitting he has got a lot of work to do before Wrexham start their Blue Square Premier Division campaign in August, Little said the final day victory at Lincoln had given everyone a lift.

"I would like to say thanks to all the players, even the ones we have released who ultimately weren't good enough, added Little. "None of them were bad people and I wish them well, and I thank the lads today for having a real go.

"And the fans have been fantastic. The team comes away and wins a football match and you see what it means to people.

"There is a great lesson for all of these young players. Winning football matches is what it is all about, and how you win it doesn't really matter.

"We have got two or three people out there who have learnt a lot again today."