AFTER suffering a fifth consecutive defeat, things do not get any easier for Brian Little's side as WREXHAM take on Chesterfield on New Year's Day.

Despite an improved performance against Stockport County, the Dragons could not manage to make the crucial breakthrough and slumped to a 1-0 defeat after Anthony Elding's second half strike. Ryan Valentine had the chance to equalise from the spot but his penalty was saved by visiting 'keeper Conrad Logan.

Wrexham remain bottom of League Two, three points behind Lincoln City who occupy 22nd position, though the Dragons still have a game in hand.

Chesterfield have rather different concerns, with Lee Richardson's side looking to gain promotion back to League One at the first time of asking. They currently lie in 5th position in League Two, three points behind Rotherham United who occupy the last automatic promotion place.

The Spireites' recent form is a complete contrast to the Dragons - Chesterfield have won their last three games, keeping clean sheets in all three. Last Saturday they managed a 2-0 away victory at Barnet, thanks to goals from Adam Rooney and Janas Kovacs.

Bury and Mansfield Town have also been defeated in recent weeks, 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.

Former Nottingham Forest forward Jack Lester is top scorer for the Spireites this season, having found the net 16 times in all competitions. Unfortunately Lester picked up his fifth booking of the season against Barnet and will serve a one match suspension - typically this will kick in for their match against Grimsby Town so he will face the Dragons tomorrow!

Felix Bastians and Jamie Ward could start for the Spireites after settling for a place on the bench against Barnet. Defender Kevin Gray misses out through suspension however.

Richard Hope is out with an ankle injury for the Dragons, and he joins long term absentees Eifion Williams, Juan Ugarte and Danny Williams on the sidelines. Mark Jones and Silvio Spann face late fitness tests.

Last Time Out

The match was over after 15 minutes as Chesterfield raced into a 3-0 lead at the Racecourse when the clubs last met in October. Jack Lester (2) and Adam Rooney found the net early on, and Peter Leven completed the rout when he added a fourth in the 60th minute.

Elsewhere in Coca-Cola League Two:

Accrington Stanley v Bradford City
Chester City v Grimsby Town
Dagenham and Redbridge v Brentford
Hereford United v Notts County
Lincoln City v Bury
MK Dons v Mansfield Town
Peterborough United v Shrewsbury Town
Rochdale v Darlington
Rotherham United v Macclesfield Town
Stockport County v Morecambe
Wycombe Wanderers v Barnet

Wrexham started 2007 with a 3-1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley, and frankly things didn't get much better from then on. Here's to a major improvement in 2008!

Ben Roberts