BULLS BE WARNED WE ARE UP FOR THE FIGHT
Mark Currie - Daily Post

WREXHAM captain Neil Roberts says high-flying Hereford United will know they have been in a battle, whatever the outcome of tonight's League Two clash at Edgar Street.

The rock-bottom Dragons go into the match seven points adrift of safety as a result of a frustrating weekend programme that saw their scheduled game at MK Dons fall victim to the weather and their relegation rivals all securing much-needed victories.

"Obviously you try not to take too much notice of the other results, but I think they all went against us on Saturday," he said.

"Given that was the situation it's a case of us doing our job, concentrating on ourselves and hoping that over the course of the season that's left things will even themselves out."

Saturday's postponement means Wrexham now have three games in hand on several of the clubs in the lower reaches of the League Two table, but Roberts confessed he would have preferred to have got the MK Dons match out of the way.

"It can work both ways," he added. "There are still three points to play for against them and it's never the easiest place to go at any time.

"We'll have to wait and see when it is re-arranged, but it might be the case further down the line that it becomes a game from which we have to get something.

"You would always prefer to have the points in the bag, but the other side of the coin presents itself tomorrow at Hereford. If we manage to get a good result down there, it might just make the teams around us begin to worry more about us.

"They might begin to feel a little bit how we felt on Saturday, knowing that we have been able to carry on the good run of form which we have had in recent weeks."

Roberts, who has formed a productive midfield partnership with Danny Sonner during a five-match unbeaten spell, admitted Hereford presented another formidable challenge, but insisted Wrexham would give as good as they got.

"We've been getting there slowly and we have become a more resolute team and one that is difficult to play against," he said.

"We are no longer going to lie down and let ourselves be rolled over, as may have been the case earlier in the season, so Hereford will know they have been in a battle.

"They are going well, they had a good cup run and they are a very decent side, which means we will have to be at the top of our game to get something from the night.

"Looking at our league spot they might be anticipating an easy three points, but we have to make sure that's not the case."

Wrexham manager Brian Little confirmed that striker Drewe Broughton, who would have sat out Saturday's game had it gone ahead, will lead the line again this evening in what is likely to be the same starting line-up for the Dragons last match, a 0-0 draw at Peterborough United.

Acknowledging the points gap that has developed as a result of the weekend programme, Little said: "Our future won't be decided by that or by tomorrow's game at Hereford.

"There are 17 games to go for us and that's a lot of points to play for. If we can maintain the form we have shown in the last five games, I'm confident we will be okay."

Hereford's 2-0 victory over Chesterfield on Saturday was their fourth on the run and another this evening will see them go top of League Two.

But Bulls boss Graham Turner has been quick to offer a word of warning to his team.

"Wrexham had a day off on the weekend and they've signed a lot of players," he said. "We looked at the six match sequence in February and earmarked the one on Tuesday as possibly the hardest game of the lot.

"Wrexham are fighting for their lives and we've got a good idea what to expect What we've got to do is make sure we're nice and fresh and able to play as well as we can do."

After missing the last two matches, midfielder Ben Smith is expected to return from injury tonight.

But the Bulls are still without injured quartet Toumani Diagouraga, Lee Collins, Steve Guinan and Luke Webb.

DREWE BROUGHTON: IT'S TOUGH ON ROB DUFFY
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

DREWE BROUGHTON sympathised with Rob Duffy for not getting the chance to stake his claim at the weekend - but the striker is all too familiar with the harsh realities of football.

On-loan frontman Broughton gets the nod ahead of Duffy tonight when Wrexham take on highflying Hereford United at Edgar Street (7.45pm).

Illegible to face parent club Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday, Broughton's place in attack would have gone to Duffy, who is with the Reds on a temporary basis from Oxford United until the end of the season, but the game was called off because of a frozen pitch.

And Broughton admitted he understands Duffy's predicament.

"I'm sure Rob is gutted," said Broughton today. "We have all been there, that's the way it is.

"The last three months at Milton Keynes Dons I have been waiting for my opportunity. It happens up and down the country."

Confirming that Broughton would start, manager Brian Little said: "Drewe will play. Rob did not get a chance to stake his claim and I feel sorry for him. Rob was all prepared to try and keep his place and I like him, he is a good player.

"But my job is to pick the team and Drewe has done well for us," said Little who has brought in 11 new faces since taking over as manager, increasing competition for starting places.

That is something that Broughton welcomed and the 29-year-old is impressed with the quality in the squad: "It is a big squad which it is important to have," said Broughton.

"People are getting back to fitness and there is competition for places which is good.

"Yesterday we had a practice match in training, 11 versus 11, and they were two good teams playing against each other. It is good for the club that there are 20 odd players all capable of making the team.

"Everyone wants to keep their place.

"If you get a starting place you have to try to keep it. For one-and-a-half hours you have to be at your best.

"If a player isn't at their best, there is someone to take their place so it will only make performances better."

Wrexham go into the match on the back of a five game unbeaten run, but results elsewhere at the weekend did not favour the Reds.

Wins by Dagenham and Redbridge and Mansfield left the Reds seven points from safety, though they have at least one game in hand on the five sides immediately above them.

But Broughton was not concerned by the outcome of fixtures on Saturday: "It is easy to be miserable, but the league is not won in February," he said. "You have to look after yourself and do as well as you can.

"There will be swings and roundabouts for the rest of the season. There will be weekends when we win and other teams lose.

"We have to stay focussed as a team and as individuals. I know what job I have to do in attack just as Steve Evans does in defence."

Although he would not have featured against MK Dons, Broughton is looking forward to returning to action, with tonight's match the first of four in two weeks.

"Obviously it is 10 days without a game and we are looking forward to playing," said Broughton.

"It is always difficult missing a game. You prepare Monday to Friday ready for the match on the Saturday.

"We are focussed now on the two games this week and two next week. It is a big period for us and it is a case of us having to be switched on. We have got to try to continue the form of the last five games.

"The team that has played the last five matches has had a good shape, and have got good results.

"It is important to keep that momentum going."

Broughton's one month loan deal expires after Saturday's match against Grimsby Town at The Racecourse, and Little has already begun discussions with opposite number Paul Ince about retaining Broughton's services and the much travelled frontman would like to extend his stay.

"Hopefully I will stay another month," added Broughton. "Paul Ince has to decide yet, but I would like to stay for another month."