PLAYER-BOSS Andy Morrell is calling on his players to step up a gear and hit top form.
Wrexham go into tomorrow’s clash against Gateshead at The Racecourse (3pm) on the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Hereford United, a second reversal in three league matches.
But the Reds remain fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Newport County with a game in hand, and Morrell insists there is a lot more to come from his side.
“We have got to bounce back,” said Morrell. “I didn’t think the performance against Hereford was horrendous, we were just sloppy from two set-pieces and weren’t really bright enough in the final third.
“We have worked on a couple of things and the lads look bright and up for it.
“We are still right in the mix and I don’t think we have fully hit top form yet. I still think there is a fair bit to come from us.
“The young lads have stepped in and done great for us, it is the older lads we need to say ‘let’s take it on another step’ and try to go on another unbeaten run like we had at the start of the season.”
With no team running away with the title and everyone dropping points, Morrell believes the race for automatic promotion is a lot more open this season but he feels Wrexham are as good as anybody in the league.
“We have seen every team or played against every team in our league and I am not so sure that there is any team that you need to be scared of,” said Morrell.
“All teams are dangerous but it looks like teams are going to be beating each other all the way through.
“Let’s get back to winning ways or get something out of the game to get that points tally ticking over again.
“It feels like it has been a horrible month with the FA Cup defeat as well but we have lost twice in the league (since the early defeat at Macclesfield) so it is not horrendous.
“It is just consistency and we need to get back to winning ways. We need to be a bit more cut-throat in the final third and if we do that, it takes the pressure off the lads at the back.”
Morrell is hoping centre-back Martin Riley (knee) and striker Brett Ormerod (hamstring) will come through today’s training session to be available to face Gateshead, although there is a question mark over defender Stephen Wright.
“Martin trained yesterday, he said he felt a lot better, and Brett trained again,” said Morrell. “There is no reaction to his hamstring injury so we will check on them both today, see how they are and take it from there.
“Stephen has got a calf problem and not trained the last couple of days. Whether he will right or not, we will have to wait and see.”
If Ormerod is passed fit, Morrell will have six strikers available once again.
Morrell, Danny Wright and Nick Rushton started against Hereford, with Adrian Cieslewicz and Rob Ogleby coming off the substitutes bench, and the player-boss has hinted at changes in attack.
“I have got options there again and might freshening up after playing those three games in a week,” added Morrell.