Hello friends and welcome back to my continuing Wrexham story in which we’ve encountered a difficult start in The Championship.
We started the month off with a trip to Vicarage Road to play Watford with the home side taking the lead with a long range effort after just 10 minutes. With the greater possession predominately throughout the first half we were able to fashion an equalizer with youngster Nuno Camara being first to react to a deflected shot that he whacked into the roof of the net. We put in a very solid second half performance but one slip of concentration allowed Watford to grab the winning goal two minutes from time. We deserved a point but only have ourselves to blame for the loss.
We were off to Devon next to face Exeter City with 17 year old ML Mario Ferreria making his debut for Wrexham after joining us on loan from parent club Fulham. Once more we outplayed our opponents but after a scoreless first half the home side took the lead, heading in from a corner after 64 minutes. Patrick Nzuzi on the right side seemed out of his depth and Fofana was practically invisible so were both replaced by American Lewis Henderson and Baheng. The mood changed and we came up with the equalizer through Baheng who swept the ball into the net after a spirited run and cross by Ferreria 10 minutes later. The score remained unchanged and I was happy to come away with a point.
Mario Ferreria
Arriving back at The Racecourse Ground were two job offers waiting for me. The first from Cardiff whom I immediately rejected as I could hardly leave for a rival Welsh team and the second from Watford which I thought about for quite some time and involved a visit to the local coffee shop before deciding to carry on with Wrexham.
With no immediate games due to World Cup qualifiers I arranged a fitness fixture against Falkirk which we came from behind to win 3-2
Following the international break we had a home game against Hull City. It was a very even contest to begin with but Baheng broke the deadlock after 38 minutes with Lewis Henderson the supplying the cross from the right that Baheng headed home. We looked to have the game completely under control until a 30 yard lob caught GK Hansen off his line and it was 1-1. That was the incentive Hull needed and they came up with the winner two minutes from time as LB Lough pushed too far forward providing adequate space for the visitors to snatch the victory.
Our next encounter was with Portsmouth at Fratton Park which in the end turned into one of those bore draws though Shane Williams had a golden opportunity for a late winner but he managed to send his close range shot over the bar. At least we got a point though.
The final game of the month was at home to title chasers QPR. We were rewarded for our workman like performance in the first half with a goal from ML David Martin following a brave diving header from Shane Williams into the box that fell nicely for Martin to put past the QPR keeper. We came out for the second half in a confident mood until a corner deflected onto our young RB Massacci and into the net. He couldn’t do a thing about it. Rangers then pressed for the go ahead goal but got caught too far forward with Williams breaking away and running 60 yards before striking the ball past the keeper for a magical goal. Just as we thought we had the game tied up QPR fought back and beat our offside trap for a dramatic late equalizer.
League Table
Fixtures
We find ourselves then just two points above the relegation zone and morale amongst my strikers is at it’s lowest since taking over the club with there seemingly no way out of their individual downward spirals. I’m comtemplating bringing in some short term loan strikers to try and rescue things up front.
We start off next month with a local derby away to Cardiff which is not the type of fixture one would want when things are going badly though the only positive is that they are doing worse than us and are in 24th place :)
Thanks for reading and enjoy your Sunday!
Johnny Karp
20 февраля, 2011 at 11:37
It’s tough, the team needs some confidence and the only way to get that is by winning matches and scoring goals. A victory at Cardiff could well turn things around, fingers crossed for a win there!
Kevin
20 февраля, 2011 at 19:16
Hi Johnny
If we can get a victory in Cardiff that may turn things around otherwise I could be facing a relegation battle.
Laxeyman
20 февраля, 2011 at 11:39
Unlucky Kevin, a few games have ended in draws when it seems like you did enough to win. Your team look quite difficult to beat though, even when you lose it’s only by one goal. Hopefully things can pick up next month and the strikers can start scoring, Good luck!
Kevin
20 февраля, 2011 at 19:14
Hi Laxeyman
We were quite dominant in a lot of those games but striker comfidence as taken has real beating and thus the results reflect that.
Sayam Khan
20 февраля, 2011 at 13:14
Unlucky month there Kevin, I was wondering, what do you think is the reason to this bad start? I’m starting to fear what it would be like for Bury FC in the Championship!!
Kevin
20 февраля, 2011 at 19:34
Hi Sayam
Thanks, I was a shade unlucky. I think the bad start is due to facing a lot stronger teams and especially the defenders seem better. In retrospect I brought in too many new players and should have maybe settled for three or four at the most. I did also change my captain as I thought he wasn’t Championship quality and that was my biggest mistake. Should have kept the faith in the players that had got us here.
Lye
20 февраля, 2011 at 14:38
Hi Kevin,
You have some tough games and the results are not going your way. Hopefully that won’t cause a chain link effect for next month. You need to start earning some points to avoid dragging nearer to the bottom. You just need a couple of wins to kick start your season. Good luck.
Kevin
20 февраля, 2011 at 19:13
Hi Lye
You are right, two or three wins could turn things around and hopefully that’s sooner rather than later!
Darren Smith
20 февраля, 2011 at 15:41
Your form has taken a dip Kevin, but its to be expected. Wrexham have come so far, so fast and the Championship is a class above any league you’ve been in. Emergency loan strikers could be required. Good luck mate
ps I bet you were biting your nails during the Man Utd game :)
Kevin
20 февраля, 2011 at 19:11
Hi Darren
Yes, we have progressed really quickly and virtually unchallenged. This season is a long hard look at reality. I was biting my nails especially when Brodie hit the crossbar!
Sears
20 февраля, 2011 at 22:44
I don’t think that’s a bad start. I guess there’s only one explanation: (I don’t mean to be rude or anything) But the other teams are better. You’ll do well to finish mid-table.Good luck Kevin!