WREXHAM V ROCHDALE
BBC Sport

Matt Crowell is suspended for Wrexham after the midfielder's red card in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Rotherham.

Eifion Williams (hamstring) and Danny Williams (back) both remain sidelined but on-loan Stoke midfielder Rob Garrett could be in contention.

Midfielder John Doolan is expected to miss out for Rochdale as he is still struggling with a hamstring injury.

David Perkins serves the second of a three-match ban, while striker Chris Dagnall (cruciate knee) is unavailable.

BOSS LITTLE NOT FAZED BY DRAGONS SLUMP
Blair Wood - Western Mail

AS he prepares for battle against Rochdale today, Brian Little is confident Wrexham will soon turn the corner and get the points their performances deserve.

The Dragons' displays certainly looked to be improving after Little took over in mid-November.

But, after two draws and a win in his opening three games, Wrexham have now slumped to three defeats on the bounce.

And, perhaps more worryingly, they have conceded nine goals in those three games. Hardly the form needed to drag them out of what looks like being a long, drawn-out relegation dogfight.

But, with the January transfer window fast approaching, Little is confident one or two additions could make all the difference.

He believes the fresh blood, combined with the commitment and attitude of his current squad, should be enough to steer the Dragons clear of danger.

The former Aston Villa manager has already seen more than enough to convince him Wrexham can turn things around. But he accepts they need to do it sooner rather than later.

"I feel we are improving and bordering on getting something out of games like the Rotherham one," he said. "But we do need to turn the corner fairly soon.

"Come January 1, we will have a clearer picture of how many points we will need for survival and how many games we will have to get them.

"I spoke to the players on Saturday and they know we will be trying to bring a couple of new faces to help us during the second half of the season.

"It's my job to get us out of trouble. So, once the window reopens, there will be a player or two coming in."

He continued, "Overall though, I have to say I'm really happy with the spirit and determination we have been showing. The lads have really worked their socks off.

"I'm up for the challenge and I'm optimistic. We just need to get a break."

That challenge continues today with the visit of Rochdale. And, with Keith Hill's men sitting comfortably in mid-table on nearly double Wrexham's points, it's sure to be a tough test.

But it's hard to gauge what sort of form Rochdale will be in. After all, having had two consecutive games called off, they haven't played since the first week of December.

Admittedly, they have still won three of their last four games. In fact, after their 0-0 draw at Spotlands on December 1, Wrexham are the only team to take points off Rochdale since the start of November.

But it would be hard for any team to maintain that sort of form over a three-week break. Match fitness and sharpness are bound to have been affected, something Little and his squad will be desperate to take advantage of.

But, while the visitors' predicament is bound to play a part today, Wrexham have their own demons to overcome. The most notable being their poor home form.

The Dragons have only mustered two wins and two draws at home this season. Even combined, that is still only half the number of defeats fans have witnessed at the Racecourse this season.

Such a statistic is a clear indicator of where Little and his squad need to improve. If they are to keep their League Two status, Wrexham will need to sort out their home form, and quickly.

It's not an alien concept to the players, though, and defender Shaun Pejic is more than aware of how important it is they start winning home games.

The 24-year-old is as perplexed as the average fan about why Wrexham are faring better on the road than they are at the Racecourse.

But, like his manager, Pejic is confident one win could make all the difference.

He said, "We need a win or two in front of our own fans to kick-start us. Once that happens, I'm confident we will settle down and you will see the results improve.

"When confidence is low you tend to hold back and don't take chances. That's what has been happening at home this season.

"It's been really frustrating and a big contrast to our away form, where we seem to be able to relax more, enjoy the opposition and make the running.

"But we know we can't use that as an excuse. Our supporters pay their money, turn up and expect us to perform and win. It's the least they deserve.

"It's now up to us to get over this as a team because everyone knows how crucial your home form is.

"We know we need to climb the table and there's no point in feeling sorry for ourselves."

Whether or not Wrexham can start their resurgence against Rochdale remains to be seen. One thing is certain though; a belated Christmas treat could play a vital role in making it a much happier new year for the club.

WREXHAM LOOK TO END LOSING STREAK
Mark Currie - Daily Post

WREXHAM manager Brian Little is hoping to halt a three-match losing streak by taking the game to the opposition provided by Rochdale at the Racecourse this afternoon.

Only three weeks after grinding out a 0-0 draw at the Lancashire club's Spotland ground - a result which prompted home boss Keith Hill to criticise Wrexham's negative attitude - the Dragons boss looks set to stick with the 4-3-3 formation he used for the first time at Rotherham United last Saturday.

Although his plans to push on against the Millers were disrupted by the early dismissal of midfielder Matt Crowell, Little was encouraged by what he witnessed in the opening stages of the game.

"It was positive and I think we took Rotherham by surprise when we got at them from the beginning of the match," he said.

"The only problem was that it did not last long enough because we had to change things once we found ourselves reduced to 10 men, but now I've got to know the players a bit better I feel that this could be the way forward.

"Even without Matty on Saturday, we created a couple of very decent chances and, despite the fact we have lost our last three matches, I sense that we are doing a little bit better."

Following his recovery from a rib injury sustained against Brentford, Trinidad international Silvio Spann is likely to return in place of the suspended Crowell as Wrexham go in search of their first home win since the end of September.

"Very often when you are at home, attack is the best form of defence," added Little. "Of course we will have to defend for some spells of the game and there are many things that we need to improve upon.

"But we really need to try and pick up at least one win before the New Year so that we do not fall away from the pack and Wednesday's game is the first of two at the Racecourse.

"We'll be pushing hard to get the points, but if that is not possible I want the fans and ourselves going home in the knowledge that we have really given it a go. At Rotherham on Saturday I felt that was the case, but at the moment we seem to be our own worst enemies.

"The system we are going to play is beginning to fall into place and it seems to suit the players available to me. We did okay defensively in my first two or three games but at Dagenham the other week it became apparent to me that we need to be more aggressive and progressive.

"We had a daft 10 minutes against Brentford, but on Saturday we were not far off. At 1-0 down we had a great chance to equalise when Sam Aiston went through and, with 10 men, you aren't going to get many opportunities so you have to take them.

"If I believed that the players were not putting in the effort I would have grounds to be very critical of them.

"But that is definitely not the case here and anyone who was at Rotherham on Saturday would know what I mean when I say I can see things are beginning to come together for us."

Skipper Richard Hope, who is expected to shake off a slight calf strain to play this afternoon, is painfully aware that the Dragons defence have shipped nine goals in their last three outings.

But he, too, is convinced that Wrexham are not far away from ending their dismal run.

"It looks bad on paper," he said. "But we gave Rotherham a very good game until the final quarter when we were pushing on to try and get something from the game.

"If we adopt a more positive approach we might be able to take a bit of pressure off the defence and the longer the ball stays in the opposition half of the field, the more chance we have of getting ourselves organised at the back.

"We can take some positives from Saturday's performance so I definitely feel we are making some progress and hopefully we can prove that in the two home games this week.

"Confidence is a funny thing in football and it doesn't take much to either boost it or knock it. A couple of decent performances at the Racecourse could make a huge difference to us for the rest of the season, which is not even at the halfway mark yet.

"We are aware that we haven't given our fans much to shout about at home this season and I can assure everyone that it hurts us and our families just as much as it hurts them and we are desperate to put that right."

WILLIAMS WANTS A QUIET LIFE
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

ANTHONY WILLIAMS hopes to be less involved when Wrexham entertain Rochdale at The Racecourse today (3pm).

Struggling Wrexham go into the Boxing Day clash on the back of three consecutive defeats, and the Reds have conceded three goals in each of those disappointing reversals.

Goalkeeper Williams, a former Wales under 21 international, has found himself in the thick of the action during that poor sequence that leaves Wrexham second from bottom in the League Two table.

And the 30-year-old is hoping there is less focus on Wrexham's back line against Rochdale, and that the Reds - the lowest scorers in the division - start finding the target at the other end of the pitch.

"You are judged by the amount of goals you concede but personally I feel I've been playing well lately," said Williams today. "But I would sacrifice that if the team was playing well and getting results.

"As a 'keeper you don't want to be talked about and you want to be mentioned less than I have been. If people notice you have been playing well, it does not bode well.

"For me to have to do so much shows that we have been under pressure at the back.

"Hopefully people will be talking about the lads scoring goals and doing well at the other end of the pitch.

"Defending starts at the front and, likewise, it is not just the forwards you have to look to to score the goals. We have to take collective responsibility on the pitch.

"Winning becomes a habit but so does losing and it is difficult to get out of a rut. We will turn the corner and we all believe in that. We will all keep working hard to do so."

Wrexham had embarked on a three-game unbeaten run under new manager Brian Little prior to the hat-trick of defeats that have marred the 54-year-old's arrival.

And Williams is looking for the the Reds to string together another unbeaten run in the battle to pull clear of the relegation zone.

"Hopefully we will give the fans something to shout about," said Williams. "We want to perform well for ourselves, but also to do well for the fans.

"We have to get people back at The Racecourse by winning games. Our home form has not been brilliant. You expect to lose more away but we have got to start doing better at home.

"A couple of wins would be nice. There is no hiding away from the fact that we have got to start winning games.

"At home you expect to get something out of matches.

"But you have to look to pick up points from every game. We are not at panic stations where you have to win at all cost. Any point you can pick up, week in week out, is not a problem and you will climb the table.

"A couple of weeks ago we went on a three game unbeaten run and we have got to go on another decent run."

Wrexham earned a battling point against Rochdale at Spotland at the start of December when they held on for a 0-0 draw.

Rochdale, 11th in the table and with at least two games in hand on all but one of the sides above them, have won three of their last four league games, the other outing resulting in that stalemate with Wrexham.

But Williams believes there is no reason why Wrexham can't record a victory against Keith Hill's side.

"It has not been brilliant the last few games," added Williams. "It was difficult being down to 10 men for so long at Rotherham on Saturday, but we had a good result at Rochdale not that long ago.

"We know what Rochdale are all about so hopefully we can get back to winning ways and perform a lot better than we have done of late. I see no reason why we can't get the three points."

Wrexham go into the clash on the back of a 3-0 defeat against high-flying Rotherham United on Saturday.

Midfielder Matty Crowell, whose contract expires in five days, was sent off following a two foot-footed challenge just 14 minutes into the clash and begins a three match suspension today.

Manager Brian Little, disappointed Wrexham did not begin their festive programme on a winning note, reiterated his desire to bring in fresh faces when the transfer window re-opens next month.

"January will come and my job is to try and help us get out of the trouble and we will try and find a face or two that will help us," said Little.

"But the current group of players, the attitude is spot on.

"It would be nice to have won a game and got out of the bottom three by the New Year. Psychologically, I think that would have been important for us.

"But whatever happens, after January 1st we will roughly know how many points we need from how many games we play.

"I don't think it will take a real nuclear scientist to work that one out."

WREXHAM (from): Anthony Williams, Baynes, Steve Evans, Hope, Valentine, Mark Jones, Spann, Garrett, Aiston, Proctor, Roberts, Llewellyn, Pejic, Mike Williams, Gareth Evans, Taylor, Michael Jones.