CHRIS WESTWOOD has called for patience from Wrexham’s loyal support as the Reds look to solve their problematic home form.
Wrexham have suffered three defeats in their last four outings in all competitions at The Racecourse, conceding 10 goals in the process.
The latest loss was particularly hard to stomach for players and supporters with Hereford snatching an unlikely 2-1 victory on Saturday.
Having spent 17 years as a professional Westwood has seen it all and can understand the fans frustrations, but is calling on them to continue turning out in their numbers - starting on Saturday against Gateshead.
“To be honest I don’t feel that there is any pressure because any fan wants you to win, especially a home fan,” said the 35-year-old when asked about the pressures of playing at home.
“From a fan’s point of view, what they have to understand is that when teams come and sit back and we do keep the ball and pass it around, it looks like we are going from side-to-side and we are doing it for a reason.
“It is not a case of passing it to keep the ball. We are doing it for a reason and that is when we need the fans to stick with us.
“It is a bit frustrating for them and you hear the groans because it is a natural thing to do. I have done it myself, but that is when you need the fans to stick with you.
“The players get confidence from the support and they want to get on the ball and they are willing to try things.”
He added: “I am a fan of football myself and I have done the same things, you get frustrated because it is easy to do, but they have not been booing or anything like that.
“They want us to do well and we want to do well. We all need to stick together.”
A victory on Saturday would lift the spirits of the supporters, but from a personal point of view three points against Ian Bogie’s side would make for a much more enjoyable Monday morning for Westwood and his team mates.
Traditionally the time used for a review of the match Monday mornings have become a time for soul searching of late
“We have had quite a few meetings recently but it helps iron a few things out,” admitted Westwood. “The gaffer, Billy (Barr) and Oakesy (Michael Oakes) get their point across and ask us if we’ve seen anything different.
“At the moment it’s just not clicking, we are not in gear.
“Anyone can watch a game back and say ‘you should have done that’. I watched Liverpool (on Sunday) and I was screaming at the television, but when you are on the pitch you have a split second to make a decision.
“You hope that you get the decisions right most of the time. When you get them wrong that is when people start to question the defence.”
He added: “As a defender I always question whether I personally could have done anything about a goal or us as a defence could have done anything about a goal.
“We have conceded some sloppy goals, but I think you defend as a team and you go forward as a team.
“If the ball doesn’t keep coming back at us...you can nitpick on the whole game.”
When results aren’t going to plan fractions can appear in the dressing room, but Westwood insists that’s not the case at Wrexham and the players are united in their quest to turn things around.
Asked whether there had been any finger-pointing, Westwood said: “There hasn’t to be fair.
“We have gone into the office and the gaffer has shown us things that we could have done better, but there have been no in-house arguments or anything like that.”
Looking forward to the weekend’s meeting with Gateshead, Westwood added: “We need to take the initiative and score the first goal.
“Goals are not coming with ease at the moment, but we went to Southport and scored four. At home we are struggling for a little bit of form.”