The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Who will go down?







Come on Town!
Come on Town!

Grimsby v Wrexham Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 10/01/2008

WITH all the talk of 1998 and its repeat let’s hope it doesn't include the six game losing streak Buckley’s heroes went on before their trip to the Twin Towers.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Wrexham (h)


The Opposition

Overview

Rock bottom Wrexham are in desperate trouble with financial woes abounding and a plethora of off the field arguments, the Racecourse ground could have been shut this time last season. Now with a tad more stability off the field than on it they are struggling to keep up with most of the clubs in the league. With heavy defeats to Chesterfield, Peterborough and Aston Villa (if that one counts), only compounding the close defeats which the Dragons have consistently encountered throughout the season. With a negative 23 goal difference so far this season (the second worst in the country, only Derby have a greater deficit) it’s not hard to see why the Welsh side find themselves the worst team in the entire football league. It isn't looking too good for the fight for survival either, Mansfield are on a brilliant cup run lifting their morale and their coffers while Dagenham have started playing a more positive and assertive style of play which is getting them results. With a crushing 4-2 defeat against Llanelli on Wednesday night been described by Brian Little (left) as "In all the years I have been in football, we as a group gave away the poorest goals I have ever seen in 37 years of professional football,"

The Team
The well travelled Brian Little has the task of pulling the Dragons from near catastrophe. With stints as manager of Villa, Leicester and Hull all under his belt, one of the most experienced managers in the country faces his biggest ever task. With an experienced squad at his charge it might not be as hard as it first appears. Neil Roberts was a sensation up front for Wigan while former Town stopped Anthony Williams occupies the space between the posts (for now at least with the arrival of new signing Gavin Ward from Chester) and with a spattering of stereotypical Welsh names such as Williams, Jones Evans and Llewellyn thrown in to boot it can't be all that bad surely? Michael Proctor (left) is the leading scorer for Wrexham with 5 followed by the fore mentioned Roberts with 3. Unfortunately the low count doesn't mean the goals are been evenly distributed throughout the squad - only 5 other players have added one or more to the campaign. With The Dragons haemorrhaging goals like a New Orleans flood barrier (has enough time passed for that not to be in bad taste?) and a strike force not willing to hit a few in for the team Little has to pull out all the stops to pull Wrexham out of the worst situation they have found themselves in since the club's invention.

Key Player
Most Wrexham fans at this moment will shout "We don't have one!" at the top of their voice but alas I have found a gem in the coal face (Thank you Embrace for that turn of phrase). The fact that he has just signed ensures that 37-year-old 'keeper Gavin Ward (left) has done no wrong, unlike his predecessor former Mariner Anthony Williams who has conceded all those goals. Ward was not getting in the team at Chester, so decided to make the short move to Wrexham, the 16th club of his career, spent entirely outside of the top division.

Recent Form

TownWrexham
WStockport(a)2-1
WChesterfield(a)2-1
WChester(a)2-0
WLincoln(h)1-0
LAccrington(h)1-2
Currently 15th in League Two.
LChesterfield(a)1-2
LStockport(h)0-1
LRochdale(h)0-2
LRotherham(a)0-3
LBrentford(h)1-3
Currently 24th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownWrexham
Danny North5
Proctor6

Team News

TownWrexham

  • Ciaran Toner is now fitting after missing five games with a hamstring problem.

  • Sam Hird and Martin Butler are available after missing the last game through being cup tied .
  • Striker Chris Llewellyn serves a one-match ban while Neil Taylor is doubtful with a knock.

  • 37-year-old keeper Gavin Ward this week signed from Chester and is expected to start.

  • Defender Phil Bolland has also signed from Chester.

  • Northampton midfielder Sam Aiston, once a target of Grimsby, has signed on a free transfer.
  • Probable Teams

    TownWrexham
    G1Barnes
    D6Fenton
    D24Atkinson
    D3Newey
    M2Clarke
    M8Bolland
    M11Boshell
    M4Hunt
    M17Hegarty
    F9North
    F19Jones
    GTBAWard
    D4Pejic
    D5Steve Evans
    D15Mike Williams
    D2Spender
    M18Mackin
    M22Murtagh
    MTBAAiston
    M3Valentine
    F10Proctor
    F9Roberts

    Subs

    TownWrexham
    13Montgomery
    14Hird
    10Toner
    18Bore
    23Butler
    1Anthony Williams
    31Baynes
    21Marc Williams
    25Taylor
    10Eifion Williams

    Head to Head

    Honours are almost even between the two sides with 21 wins each and 11 draws. Wrexham just shade it on goal difference! Town have won three out of four games since the teams have been in League Two, and both at Blundell Park.

    P 53 W 21 D 11 L21 F 64 A 69

    Wrexham Head-to-Head (45th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 2 Wrexham 1 (Tue 20th February 2007)

    Grimsby faced Wrexham last year coming on the back on three consecutive wins and had Ciaron Toner to thank for making it four on the bounce. The Ulsterman scored an injury time winner to grab the points, as Town came from behind after McEvilly seized upon a poor backpass in the first half.

     Report

    Prediction

    Grimsby Town 2-0 Wrexham

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.

    Add To Facebook


    This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!


    Related Stories


    Forum Latest
    Thread TitlePostsLatest Post
    Prediction Thread Barrow A33Norseman28/03 23:36
    Dn35 podcast drinking game6MarinerWY28/03 23:26
    David Artell Interview Dn35 Podcast16WesternMariner28/03 21:26
    Just Back 170diehardmariner28/03 20:03
    New Training Ground.!!57Sigone28/03 19:38
    Youth players out on loan21diehardmariner28/03 16:54
    "Beat the Clock"  Barrow22Grantham_Mariner28/03 15:18
    Bradford KO time?4JK4728/03 13:13
    Twenty First Group / Overseas Market31jimgtfc28/03 11:16
    TV Games/Upcoming Fixtures4SiteBot28/03 03:30