By Mark Currie, Daily Post
22 April 2008
WREXHAM
approach the second hurdle of the four-match winning run they need to secure
their Football League status at Hereford United tonight with the same players
who were involved in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Notts County.
Racecourse manager Brian Little has kept faith with the younger members of his
squad who rewarded him with a three-point haul for the first time in eight
outings, although he admitted the visit to Edgar Street would pose a much
tougher test.
“I want to see how they get on in a game away from home,” he said. “It’s a good
test for them because it will be a harder and a very different type of match,
but that’s no reason to change anything after Saturday.
“At the moment we are fighting to stay in this league, but I’m also aware we
need to be thinking ahead about next season and we have to give these lads as
much experience as we can.
“It’s another big game for the club, certainly, and there is a lot riding on it,
but we feel that to go back to the players involved before last Saturday would
not be the right thing to do.
“By the same token, though, it would be unfair to criticise this group if the
result at Hereford does not go the way we want. There will be no blame attached
to them because they are a good bunch of lads who need to learn and to see if
they can cope.
“But we feel we have as much of a chance with them as we would have had with the
older players.”
Given Wrexham’s appalling goal difference and the fact that fellow strugglers
Dagenham & Redbridge and Mansfield Town play each other on the final Saturday of
the season, anything other than a win this evening will see the Dragons
relegated.
But Little is staying positive, saying: “Nine of the team that played on
Saturday came through the club’s youth system, so it was great to see them win a
game.
“Learning how to win matches is what being a professional footballer is all
about and they showed against Notts County that they have not given up the fight
to stay in this league.
“They haven’t had to endure the pressure of the last few months and that showed.
They were obviously very pleased after the game, even though there were one or
two little faults to highlight.
“They were a bit naïve at times, there were a few positional errors and they
tried to take free kicks too quickly when there was no need, but the experience
of finding themselves in those situations will help them to become better
players.
“The most important thing, though, was they knew it was a must-win game and they
delivered.
“It was pretty even, but I thought we were the better team in the second half.
“And the goal came at the right time for us, even though it meant we were a bit
nervous in the final few minutes, which was only to be expected.”
He added: “Tomorrow at Hereford these lads will experience a very different game
against a decent side.”
Midfielder Levi Mackin, one of the youngsters recalled at the weekend for the
first time since New Year’s Day, said: “I thought we did okay and there was a
lot of energy in the team. We knew it was a big game but everyone was confident
and we achieved what we set out to achieve.
“Obviously it will be tougher against Hereford because they are not third in the
table for nothing, but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. All we
can do now is to take it game by game and pick up as many points as we can.”
Hereford United boss Graham Turner, whose side remain on course for automatic
promotion despite losing 1-0 at home to promoted Peterborough United at the
weekend is expected to name an unchanged line-up.