NAT KNIGHT-PERCIVAL is confident that Wrexham’s defence will return to its frugal best at Kidderminster Harriers this evening (7.45pm).
Wrexham brought an end to three weeks of inactivity on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 home victory over Hayes and Yeading.
Four goals and three points made sure that the home fans went home happy, but player/boss Andy Morrell described himself as ‘raging’ after a late Michael Thalassitis strike prevented Wrexham from recording a 17th Conference Premier clean sheet of the campaign.
The team have since viewed a video of the goal and Knight-Percival is confident that he and his defensive colleagues will make amends tonight.
“We weren’t pleased at all,” he admitted when asked about Hayes’ consolation strike. “We took our foot off the gas a little bit and lost concentration. We will all take blame for that.
“We have had a look at the video and we can only learn from it. Luckily it hasn’t cost us.”
The 24-year-old continued: “We have had some great clean sheets and we haven’t really conceded many goals, except against Mansfield and York, so overall we are pretty pleased.
“First and foremost, as defenders, we are going to concentrate on keeping a clean sheet and let the guys up the top try and do the business.
“We will try and stop them scoring but it is going to be a hard game. Kidderminster are a good team and they have some good players so we will show them the respect they deserve.”
After a three week break, the games come thick and fast for Wrexham as they look to pip Fleetwood Town to top spot and reclaim their place in the Football League.
Key to Wrexham’s fortunes will be their away form with the next three matches – against Kidderminster, Stockport and Kettering – all away from The Racecourse.
To date, the Reds have been impressive on their travels, conceding just nine goals in 14 games, and Knight-Percival has backed his team mates to continue that vein of form.
“It can make a little bit of a difference where we are playing because our fans show us great support,” he explained. “But, the majority of the time we have the most fans at games.
“You want to pick up points away from home and that is important if you are to win the league.
“We have been doing that so far and we want to keep doing our bit away from home.”
The former Histon man is equally unconcerned with the fact that Wrexham must now play three games in a week after 21 days without any match action.
“It is not too bad,” he said when asked about the prospect of playing a game so soon after Saturday’s win. “I am a little bit stiff and some of the lads are a little bit stiff, but after such a long time not playing you are just wanting to play again.
“With the break it will put us in a position of having quite a few games in a short space of time. Sometimes that is a good thing because it keeps you on a run.”
Meanwhile, Morrell, who is hoping to welcome back midfielder Dean Keates for the trip to Kidderminster, is confident his side can return to North Wales with all three points this evening.
“It will be really tough as they are a good side,” said the 37-year-old. “If we are focused and our attitude is right we will be able to give them a game.
“We keep focusing on ourselves and our attitude to games and our desire to go to places like this (Kidderminster) and pick up points because, if we are right, we are a match for any team in this league.”
Morrell and Wrexham have received a boost in the shape of striker Danny Wright who took a full part in training yesterday morning and is expected to step up his recovery from a dislocated elbow in the reserve team fixture at Prestatyn tomorrow evening (7.30pm).
Midfielder Jamie Tolley will be included in the Wrexham squad for tonight’s game after recovering from illness.
- Chris Maxwell and Robert Ogleby have been named in the Brian Flynn’s Wales Under-21 squad for the meeting with Andorra at The Racecourse on Wednesday, February 29.
Former Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward, now with Liverpool, has been named on the standby list.
- The Wrexham Supporters Trust Special General Meeting is now on Monday, February 27 with a scheduled time of 7.30pm.