THE Reds head to Peterborough United tomorrow, looking to bury memories of an awful FA Cup exit at the hands of the Posh back in November.
On that occasion we fell behind with less than 90 seconds on the clock and by 90 minutes the score had stretched to 4-1 for United.
We never offered them any competition on the day and the scoreline could have been considerably worse!
This time around, we are hoping to be more of a threat and see if we can pick up a point or three from birthday boy Darren Ferguson, to aid in our quest for Football League survival.
Skipper Richard Hope is available again after serving a one-match ban against Darlington, but will be recalled immediately or have to make do with a place on the bench at London Road, a ground where had to leave the action at half time following a nasty tackle back in November.
Back from international duty are Steve Evans, Mike Williams and Neil Taylor, all of whom are none the worse for their adventures.
While Sam Aiston and Rob Duffy enjoyed another 90 minutes each with the reserves in midweek, Rob scoring two goals for the second game running.
Josh Johnson has not been so fortunate, as despite playing a part in proceedings against Tranmere Reserves, he went for a scan today on his troublesome leg injury after suffering more discomfort at Prenton Park.
It is a little too early to risk Eifion Williams, although he played for an hour in midweek, and there is also good news about Paul Hall, as the forward is hoping to join in training again next week after recovering from a pulled hamstring.
Wrexham: Gavin Ward, Anthony Williams, Steve Evans, Richard Hope, Mike Williams, Drewe Broughton, Rob Duffy, Stuart Nicholson, Chris Llewellyn, Michael Proctor, Neil Roberts, Jeff Whitley, Neil Taylor, Simon Spender, Wes Baynes, Danny Sonner, Sam Aiston.
FERGIE SEEKS A PERFECT PRESENT
Alan Swann - Peterborough Evening Telegraph
POSH are praying that the purists overcome the pugilists tomorrow.
Manager Darren Ferguson is expecting a wild contrast in playing styles when struggling Wrexham visit London Road for a League Two match (3pm).
But he's backing the pure football of his own team to see off the fighting qualities of a side enduring a second successive battle to stay in the Football League.
Ferguson, who celebrates his 36th birthday tomorrow, said: "Make no mistake this is one tough game tomorrow.
"Wrexham have been transformed by manager Brian Little in the last few weeks and we only have to look back to the Macclesfield match from a few weeks ago to realise that we can't take any opposition for granted.
"We are expecting plenty of long balls and plenty of physical football from a team fighting for their lives. They rely heavily on set-pieces so that's another threat we have to combat.
"But I can't go overboard about them because I know that if we are on our game and our attitude is spot on then we should pick up another three points.
"We have got ourselves into a great position in the table and we now need to push on and make the top three. We will play our football and let them worry about us."
If Posh do beat Wrexham they will have won four regular season league matches in succession for the first time since the 1991-92 campaign.
They went on to win nine in succession then and gain promotion to what is now the Championship for the first time in the club's history.
Posh are again without captain Micah Hyde tomorrow, but free-scoring midfielder Charlie Lee is available after serving a one-match suspension and is expected to replace Scott Mitchell in the starting line-up.
Wrexham are expected to name the same side which beat promotion challengers Darlington 2-0 at The Racecourse Ground last weekend as they attempt to thwart Ferguson's attempt to claim a hat-trick of wins against his old club.
Ferguson added: "We played them near my birthday last season and it was my first win as a manager. I'm looking for another, but Wrexham are a much better, vastly more experienced side now."
LITTLE IS CONFIDENT OF STOPPING POSH
Peterborough Evening Telegraph
WREXHAM boss Brian Little admits his priority tomorrow will be stopping Posh playing.
Little has overseen an impressive four-game unbeaten run which has included wins over League's Two top two MK Dons and Darlington.
The MK Dons win last month ended a run of seven straight League defeats and that gave Little's new-look side the confidence boost they required.
But tomorrow is the start of a tough run of games which could make or break Wrexham's season. After tomorrow they face MK Dons, Hereford and Posh again before the end of the month.
Little said: "It's a heck of a tough run we're facing. The Peterborough game is just one of a long line of hard games, but we will go there in a very positive frame of mind.
"If you let them play then they'll play very well as they are a very, very good side. Our job will be to stop that happening and we are confident we can get a good result.
"The mood in the camp is very good. The new players are settling in well and their arrivals have taken a bit of the pressure off some of the other lads.
"We have some good experienced players and some good younger ones, but there is still a lot of hard work to do and we have a motto among the staff here and that's 'never stop and don't relax'.
"That will be crucial in the next few weeks, but we have shown we can match and beat the top teams."
Things haven't always been so rosy. The Wrexham board were forced to offer a vote of confidence to their boss after a 1-0 defeat at Grimsby last month, a seventh straight loss
Little added: "That was obviously a very frustrating time for us. Sometimes we played okay and yet we kept getting kicked up the backside.
"The MK Dons win was crucial, but our best display was last week against Darlington as we deserved our win. We outplayed them from start to finish and they are a very good side.
"But it's another tough test against a Peterborough side who score plenty of goals. We have worked hard on our defending in recent weeks and we will certainly have to be on top of that side of our game tomorrow."
Focus on... Wrexham
THERE are plenty of connections between the two clubs tomorrow.
Posh have ex-Wrexham men Darren Ferguson, Kevin Russell and Craig Morgan on their books, while former Posh men Danny Sonner, Drewe Broughton and Phil Bolland are in the Wrexham camp.
All three were taken to the Racecourse Ground during the January transfer window.
Midfielder Sonner has signed a contract until the end of the season from Port Vale, striker Broughton left MK Dons on loan and centre-back Bolland moved on loan from neighbours Chester.
Wrexham boss Brian Little has made 12 signings since taking over from Brian Carey including goalkeeper Gavin Ward who has joined his 16th professional club.
Stuart Nicholson is a pacy forward signed on loan from West Brom, but the longer-serving Wrexham players have been doing their bit in what has become an annual fight against relegation.
Chris Llewellyn, a player Posh have tried to sign on a couple of occasions, has delivered some stylish displays in midfield, while Neil Roberts has hit a decent little scoring streak, bagging goals in the victories over League Two promotion candidates MK Dons and Darlington.
Wrexham's squad has enough depth to suggest they will remain in the Football League.
Among their substitutes last weekend were experienced campaigners Shaun Pejic, Michael Proctor and Jeff Whitley.
Did you know?
POSH boss Darren Ferguson played for Wrexham in their LDV Trophy Final win over Southend at the Millennium Stadium in 2005. Ferguson scored their second in a 2-0 win after extra-time.
WREXHAM denied Posh promotion to the old Division Two for the first time when holding out for a 0-0 draw on the final day of the 1977-78 season at The Racecourse Ground.
