Wrexham defence causes concerns for Little

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

09 April 2008

BRIAN LITTLE today bemoaned simple defensive mistakes that cost his relegation-threatened side dear at League Two leaders Milton Keynes Dons last night.

Wrexham found themselves two-down after just ten minutes and despite pulling a goal back on the hour mark through Neil Roberts' penalty, another two goals sealed a 4-1 victory for the highflying Dons.

Defeat, coupled with Notts County's 4-2 reversal at Rochdale, means that Wrexham are still seven points away from safety but with just five games remaining.

And Reds' boss Little was disappointed his side, not for the first time in recent weeks, gift their opponents goals.

"We gave four dreadful goals away, certainly three," said Little. "The first was poor, the third a free header and the fourth someone taking a quick free-kick in the last seconds, and all the centre-halves are running up. It's not the cleverest in the world.

"It is hard to put your finger on why it happens. We work hard with the players all the time, I think our system and pattern is good, but we can't do anything about it if we keep doing stupid things like that.

"It's a nightmare for us because for the remainder of the game, that individual who has made a mistake is doing quite well."

Despite the nightmare start, Little was pleased with how his side came back into the game.

And when Roberts made it 2-1 from the spot, he thought the Reds could have got something out of the match until more costly errors.

"Whatever level of football, you can't afford to give four goals away," said Little. "Outside of that, I think in the main we have played quite well. At 2-1, I thought we had a chance and overall I don't think they had too many more chances than us to score.

"The last 20 minutes in the first half we were grinding our way back into the game so again our attitude and commitment is right.

"But we just had a spell where you can't really explain why we give some of the goals away that we do because there are periods in the game where we look very solid.

"Then there are periods of individuals making the most costly mistakes ever.

"Our general play is good. We are as good as most sides in the bottom half of the division but we do make more mistakes than anyone else."

Despite the defeat – Wrexham's sixth consecutive match without a victory – Little said there positives to take from it.

And Little praised midfielders Danny Williams and Neil Roberts for their contribution.

"It was always going to be a hard game for us," said Little. "Not many people in the world would have picked us to have got a result here. We haven't got a result but we are so bitterly disappointed.

"There were just so many silly things but a lot of good things to come out of the game.

"Danny is not 100 per cent match fit but he calms us down, and he passes the ball around, and as the game went on Neil did really well for us.

"Defensively we were fairly solid except for four silly mistakes.
"There are lots of things about the team that we are fairly proud of and again the scoreline makes it look as if we have not really tried, or not had a go. But I don't think that was the case. Our attitude was spot on but we just gave stupid goals away."

It was Roberts who earned Wrexham's penalty when he was brought down by Don's right-back Carl Regan.

And as Regan was the last man, Little questioned whether the defender - not even booked - could possibly have been sent-off.

"You don't want to see people sent off but I felt he was the last man," added Little. "I said to the referee some five minutes later what was his thinking and I didn't quite understand what he said to me.

"It was one of them decisions where you wonder why there was very little done other than a penalty."