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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.
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