Smith's going for goals

05 March 2010

By Richard Williams - The Leader

Christian Smith accepts that Wrexham have got to start taking their chances in front of goal if they are going to make a late charge for the Blue Square Premier play-offs.

Wrexham face relegation threatened Ebbsfleet United at The Racecourse tomorrow (3pm) knowing time is running out in their bid to secure a top-five berth.

With 15 matches remaining, 12th placed Wrexham find themselves 15 points adrift of Luton Town, who occupy the final play-off berth, although the Reds have played two games less.

Wrexham have failed to put together the winning run needed to make up ground on the teams above them and midfielder Smith stressed that only three points will do against Ebbsfleet tomorrow.

“It is important we take three points tomorrow,” said Smith. “We should have taken three points at Salisbury on Saturday, it didn’t happen but we will look to put it right against Ebbsfleet.

“We know games are running out and we need to put a string of wins together.

“We have known since the break around Christmas that we have needed to get a winning run going.

“We are now going to have to win quite a few of our remaining games.

“As long as we stay tight at the back, we will get chances in games – it is whether we take them or not.

“Anything less than a win tomorrow will be disappointing – a win is a must.
“Even though Ebbsfleet are struggling they weren’t a bad side down there. But as long as we do what we can do and take our chances then I am confident we can win.”

While they boast one of the best defensive records in the division, Wrexham have only scored 31 goals in 31 league outings.

Once again at Salisbury last Saturday, Wrexham created numerous chances but only had a goal from Smith to show for their efforts, and they were denied a much-needed win after conceding a late penalty.

And Smith admitted Wrexham need to start taking their opportunities if they are going to realise their play-off dream.

“Defensively we are good, we just need to start scoring goals at the other end,” said Smith. “In games we have had the better of the chances, we just haven’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

Although he scored his second goal of the season at Salisbury, Smith believes he should have found the back of the net on more occasions.

But having been instructed by manager Dean Saunders to get forward more often, Smith is hoping he will reap the rewards and be more prolific.

“It should be more,” he said. “The last few games I have had quite a few chances to score. I have got into the right areas, just my finishing has let me down.

“One of the reasons I have not scored so much is that me and Andy Fleming don’t get forward as much as we should.

“That is why I am more solid in the middle of the pitch. We sit in there but the gaffer has told us to make forward runs into the box, and obviously it paid off on Saturday – but we didn’t win. I was rewarded with a goal so if keep getting into the box, hopefully more goals will come.

“Our defensive record is decent. As long as we are solid defensively to start with, then when the time is right I will get forward and hopefully score.”

And Saunders still believes Wrexham can challenge for the play-offs if they can put together a winning sequence.

Following tomorrow’s clash with Ebbsfleet, Wrexham host Altrincham on Tuesday before making the trip to high-flying Luton next Saturday, and Saunders is looking for a hat-trick of victories.

“We played well at Salisbury but once again missed opportunities cost us,” said Saunders.

“We have just got to keep believing we can do it. We need to win the next three games, that’s the target. We need to win tomorrow and take it on from there.

“We have shown we can win games and if we can win three or four games it will put us right in there.

"I keep saying it but with ten matches remaining we have got to be within striking distance.”

While he knows Ebbsfleet will be no pushovers, Saunders also had another warning his players: “We have got to be strong.”

The fit-again Frank Sinclair and Lamine Sakho are pushing for recalls while Silvio Spann has recovered from the hamstring strain he picked up at Salisbury.

Leading scorer Gareth Taylor is still struggling with an ankle problem.