WREXHAM CLAIM ANOTHER TOP SCALP
Darren Devine - Western Mail

FOOTBALL in the lower leagues has few advantages to boast of compared with a Premiership dripping with multi-million pound global icons.

But with a 2-0 victory over second-placed Darlington Wrexham proved for the second time in a fortnight that the further you go down the divisions the narrower the gap between top and bottom.

Afterwards Dragons' boss Brian Little was purring about a Wrexham side that has in recent weeks delivered more shocks than a dodgy Tory MP's expense account.

He said, "It's about winning games and the performances are secondary in many respects. But I felt we got a lot of things right today and that's probably the first time I've been able to say that.

"When we won at Bury (December 4) it was a battle and it wasn't a great game, but I thought today was probably our strongest performance since I've been here."

The result after Steve Evans's 21st-minute header and a late strike from Michael Proctor stretched an unbeaten run that began with a victory over top club MK Dons to four games.

But perhaps more significantly the victory lifts relegation-haunted Wrexham off the bottom of League Two for the first time in 2008 after Mansfield were beaten by Brentford.

And though Wrexham were rarely threatened by Dave Penny's promotion-fancied team Little said the Dragons' precarious position means he never felt relaxed.

"It was a nice performance and result, but we're still not in the greatest of positions and we have to remember that."

Little felt the win was due to a minor tweaking of the line-up that saw midfielder Chris Llewellyn pushed forward to support Dragons' front men Drewe Broughton and Stuart Nicholson.

"Today we felt we had to tweak the system a little bit and we tried to give Drewe a bit more support by pushing Chris Llewellyn a bit further up on the left-hand side.

"For us that was probably our little deciding factor. They are a good side and at times they frightened us with their pace, but overall I don't think many people would say we weren't the stronger side."

Afterwards Llewellyn, who set up the second with a neat through ball for substitute Proctor, said the display was as impressive as any in recent years. "Overall we did really well and I'd go as far as saying it's probably the best performance since Grimsby at home at the beginning of last season (Wrexham won 3-0 that day).

"We'd been in a little rut and we all knew we had some games coming up against the top teams. The gaffer has been asking for an extra five per cent off everyone and he has been getting it."

And he believes it leaves Wrexham confident to face further tests of their new-found form, beginning with fourth-placed Peterborough United next weekend before another clash with MK Dons.

Llewellyn, 28, added, "We've played the top two in the last four games and we haven't lost. We've picked up two wins against the top two and kept clean sheets and if we can't take confidence from that we never will."

Former Wrexham defender Ryan Valentine, who signed for Darlington only a fortnight ago, admitted his new teammates were outfought.

He said, "Being here myself I know they've got the character to stay up because they've got players in the side who are willing to roll up their sleeves and battle."

BRIAN LITTLE - LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY
Mark Currie - Daily Post

MUCH of the credit for Wrexham's unbeaten run of four matches has gone to the players brought in by manager Brian Little during last month's transfer window.

But following Saturday's 2-0 victory over Darlington the Dragons boss turned the spotlight on those he inherited for their contribution to the club's recent upsurge in form.

"Today was pleasing because it was a solid performance and I thought we deserved to win the game," he said afterwards.

"We don't want to get carried away but that was a decent performance against a good team. On their day Darlington can give anybody a hard time because they are quick and mobile, but I felt we matched them in every department."

A second goal of the season for defender Steve Evans put Wrexham on their way and the three points were sealed late in the game by substitute Michael Proctor, but Little said Simon Spender, Neil Roberts and Mike Williams had also been influential.

"We don't want to go overboard on the new players because Neil Roberts, Neil Taylor, Spends and Evans have all played their part," he added.

"The new players have just given us an edge because they are fresher, they are experienced in most cases and they have definitely made us a stronger side.

"When you have done what we have had to do it is nice to see results coming. The other side of the coin is that if after what we've done it hadn't worked out the confidence would have filtered away.

"It has to be said that Mike Williams was one of our top players today and I thought he was outstanding. He played really well but that's what Mike is here for. He is an under-21 international and wants to be in the team. Today he staked his claim and credit to him.

"He's playing in a different team with eight out of the 16 having just come into the club, so I hope the new people are bringing the best out of those who have been here for a while.

"Today we saw the proof of that with Mike who, because of the players around him, has settled down a bit and was terrific."

The victory took Wrexham off the bottom of the League Two table for the first time in six weeks, but Little said it was too early to be counting chickens.

"In the situation we are in it's about winning games and the performances are secondary in many respects," said the Wrexham manager. "We got a lot of things right today and that's probably the first time I've been able to say that.

"At Bury we had to battle hard and we deserved to win, but today I thought it was probably our strongest performance since I've been here.

"We were very lucky in midweek and Morecambe should have won by four or five, but today I felt we deserved to win. At times Darlington frightened us with their pace, but overall I don't think too many people will go home saying we were not the stronger side."

Little added: "It hasn't happened often that we've been 2-0 up and it's always nice to be in that position when you come to the last five minutes.

"We have had a couple of narrow wins, but that second goal was very important today and I'm pleased for Proctor because he's worked very, very hard and I have a lot of time for him."

WREXHAM WERE THE BEST YET SAYS BRIAN LITTLE
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

BRIAN LITTLE described Wrexham's performance against Darlington on Saturday as the best since he took over as Reds' boss in November.

Wrexham beat second place Darlington 2-0 at The Racecourse thanks to goals from Steve Evans and substitute Michael Proctor, stretching their unbeaten run to four matches.

Victory - a third under Little - means Wrexham have leapfrogged Mansfield and are now off the bottom of the League Two table for the first time since the end of December.

And Little said his team's performance eclipsed the display against leaders MK Dons who were beaten 1-0 by the Reds last month.

"On their day Darlington will give anybody a hard time because they are very quick, mobile and strong," said Little today.

"But I thought we matched them in every department and I would be surprised if Dave Penney (Darlington manager) said they should have either won or drawn.

"I thought we were the better team so to be able to say that is pleasing.

"A few weeks ago we beat Milton Keynes Dons and that was pretty even. We hung in there and worked hard.

"But I felt Saturday's performance was better because I genuinely felt we deserved to win.

"It is about winning games and the performance is secondary in many respects. But I thought we did a lot of things right and that is probably the first time I have been able to say that.

"At Bury we won and we had to battle. Saturday was probably our strongest performance since I have been here."

Little was delighted with his side's defending as Wrexham kept their seventh clean sheet in 28 league outings this term.

"It was a very solid performance," said Little. "Gavin Ward pulled off one really good save in the first half and they had a few scrambles. Darlington are good enough to score goals against most people so I think we defended really well.

"Overall, I thought we were strong and we played reasonably well.

"I am pleased with the result and pleased with the performance more than anything else."

Little has made 11 signings since taking over and he believes the new recruits have made Wrexham a better team. But he also praised players already at the club for their contribution.

"Once again Neil Roberts, Neil Taylor, Simon Spender, Steve Evans and Chris Llewellyn have all played their part," said Little.

"But the new players have just given us a different edge. They are fresher, experienced in most cases, and have definitely made us a stronger side.

"I am convinced we are a stronger side now. We have got a good dressing room - not that we had a bad dressing room before.

"It's nice to see that when you do what we have had to do in a short time, it is nice to see results coming.

"Because the other side of the coin is if you have done as much work as we had done and are still losing games, it would very quickly filter through."

Having not even been on the substitutes 'bench in the previous four matches, centre-back Mike Williams was drafted into the side for his first start since the FAW Premier Cup defeat at Llanelli on January 9, replacing suspended captain Richard Hope.

And Little was delighted with Williams' performance: "There is competition for places and I thought Mike was one of our top players. I thought he was outstanding," added Little.

"Mike is a Wales under 21 international and wants to be in the team. And on Saturday, Mike staked his claim. Credit to him, he played terrifically well.

"But he is playing in a different team. He is 21 playing in a team where eight out of the 16 were new faces.

"I have said all along that I hope the new people bring the best out of the players who have been here for a while.

"Saturday was a case of that. Perhaps players around Mike have made him settle down a little bit."