MAKE OR BREAK FOR WREXHAM SAYS BOSS LITTLE
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

BRIAN LITTLE today admitted that Wrexham are now entering the make or break stage of the season.

Wrexham begin their run-in with an Easter double header, facing Brentford at GriffinPark tomorrow (3pm). Just 48 hours later, the Reds entertain Dagenham and Redbridge at The Racecourse on Monday.

With six weeks of the season remaining, Wrexham, who have games in hand on all their relegation rivals, have a total of 11 fixtures in that spell.

And Reds' boss Little stressed the importance of getting things right between now and the end of the season which finishes with a trip to LincolnCity on May 3.

"There are six weeks to go and plenty of games, and in that period we have got to dig in and try to get ourselves sorted," said Little today.

"If it goes bad, you have not really got a lot of time to get it right. But if things go well you just flow through the last month or so.

"We have got more games than most but there is no time to dwell on anything other than looking for a good run-in.

"Before you know it, this last six weeks will have gone so it is important we do not miss it."

Bottom of the table Wrexham go into their double header four points from safety, but having only lost two of their last 11 outings.

And Little said a lot could change in the lower reaches of the table with all the sides playing twice within the matter of days: "Everyone has been fully focussed for what is a big weekend for us," he said. "Psychologically it is a big weekend. With two games in quick succession, it can be a bit of a starting point for teams and it can give you a real push for the run-in.

"Some teams might win two games, others lose them both, and it could change things quite dramatically in the table.

"This is a period to win a game or two.

"It would be great to keep our run going, but if we get a setback we have to bounce back."

Only four of Wrexham's remaining 11 matches are away from home but Little said the Reds are focussed on the job in hand.

"We have got plenty of away games coming up," said Little. "We know they are there, we just have to dig in and try to win as many as we can.

"It's important we have the right mentality - and we do."

Little switched to a 4-4-2 formation in last weekend's 2-1 home victory against Bury and was pleased with how his players adapted: "We did well withthat second half at Wycombe and then got a result against Bury last week," he said.

"Without changing the personnel, you can still change the system and it worked."

Midfield trio Danny Sonner, Neil Roberts and Jeff Whitley are all added to the squad, following various spells out through injury, along with centre-back Richard Hope.

But defenders Carl Tremarco and Neil Taylor are missing after limping out of last week's win against Bury, so Mike Williams is likely to start of the left of defence.

"It is good to see the three back, and it is quite timely with Carl and Neil out," added Little.

"They are older, experienced lads and important to us. They will be involved somewhere."

DANNY SONNER SET TO GIVE AN EXTRA STING
Mark Currie - Daily Post

WREXHAM playmaker Danny Sonner is optimistic about his chances of returning to action at Brentford tomorrow after missing the last five matches through injury.

The veteran midfielder has been sidelined by an Achilles tendon problem since playing in the 0-0 Racecourse draw with Grimsby last month, a result that extended the club's unbeaten run to six matches.

Although it may have been nothing more than coincidence, that sequence came to an end in the Dragons' next outing against high-flying Peterborough United and, with team-mates Jeff Whitley and Neil Roberts also out of action in recent weeks, midfield has been something of a problem area for manager Brian Little.

But Sonner's experience has taught him the value of a full recovery and yesterday he was at pains to point out he was still not 100% sure of starting at Griffin Park.

"We will have to see how training goes, but at this stage everything seems to be okay," he said.

"Hopefully there won't be any reaction between now and Saturday because it is an old injury that has flared up again and was causing me to feel a bit sore after matches.

"The most important thing in this case is to rest it as much as possible, but as everyone knows we have quite a few games coming up in a relatively short space of time and I want to be fit for as many of them as is possible.

"But at the moment I'm certainly quite hopeful of being involved on Saturday and then we'll take it from there on a game-to-game basis."

Sonner said Little's current squad had all made a contribution to the battle for survival and he paid tribute to the club's supporters.

"After Saturday we still have 12 games to play in the space of about six weeks and we will need everyone on the playing side of things to make sure they do everything possible to steer clear of relegation," he added.

"We also need the fans to continue giving us what has been magnificent support, both at home and away, as we try to get the points we need to stay up. We're still bottom of the table as we speak, but we have been beaten only twice in the last 11 games, we now have a decent squad and we have been showing some decent form.

"We have to carry that through to the end of the season and the momentum we have built up has improved confidence to such an extent that we have sucked a few more teams into an area that has them looking over their shoulders.

"We've been bottom so long that we have had the chance to get our heads around what needs to be done, which may not be the case with some of the other sides that have suddenly dropped like a stone.

"To make the best of that situation we have games in hand that need to be won, because they give us a better chance than most of ensuring that our fate is in our own hands.

"It's great when you win and see another of the teams around you slipping up, but it is what we do between now and May that will decide the club's fate."

WREXHAM'S WHITLEY READY TO TAKE ON BRENTFORD
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

JEFF WHITLEY has revealed that not using an inner sole in his boot led to a knee injury.

The former Northern Ireland international limped off during the defeat at Wycombe Wanderers ten days ago, and had to miss last weekend's victory against Bury.

Thankfully, the injury to his left knee was not as bad as originally feared and Whitley is available for tomorrow's trip to Brentford.

Explaining what led to the problem, Whitley said: "I could not play through it at Wycombe but it was not as bad as I first thought," he today.

"Since I've been back I have been playing with a different pair of boots and could not put the inner sole in.

"In the end, the slightest movement triggered it off, but it is sorted now. I've been training with no effect and the knee feels fine."

With fellow midfielders Neil Roberts and Danny Sonner also recovered from injury Whitley welcomed the competition for places: "It's good to have the three of us back," he said Whitley.

"It is healthy to have people fit and battling for places. We will need a fit squad to push on till the end of the season.

"Whoever plays tomorrow, the others have to be patient and be there for the team.

"We all want to be playing, but if the gaffer thinks someone is not right for the game, that's his choice."

Wrexham have 11 matches remaining, and have games in hand over their relegation rivals.

But Whitley stressed the need to take it one game at a time in the battle to reach League Two safety.

"They are all cup finals now," added Whitley. "We have got games in hand but you can't predict the future and look too far ahead.

"We have to concentrate on Brentford, and then the next game.

"We have to make sure we are out of the blocks early and start well.

"I am confident we will stay up.

"The lads are buzzing in training and still believe we can get it sorted."