ANDY MORRELL insists his players are desperate to make amends for last weekend’s defeat and he is expecting a huge improvement when Wrexham face Nuneaton at The Racecourse tomorrow (3pm).
Unhappy with his side’s performance as they suffered a 2-0 reversal against Kidderminster Harriers, Morrell was looking for a positive response in midweek but Wrexham’s game at Alfreton Town was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Wrexham might have had to wait to put things right but Morrell admits his players can’t wait to face lowly Nuneaton and show what they are made of.
“We came in on Tuesday evening, it was good just to get some minutes under our belts and get some training in again,” said Morrell. “Everybody is looking forward to getting back out there.
“I was trying to keep the reigns on the players a little bit, they want to get out there and put it right. We have had a couple of good, lively sessions. They are thoroughly chomping at the bit.
“It is time to stick out your chest and stick out your shoulders and go, ‘this is us and we are not going anywhere’.”
Morrell had identified areas where Wrexham must improve against a Nuneaton side who beat play-off chasing Dartford 1-0 in midweek but remain in the relegation zone.
“We have got to go in with the right attitude and approach and have got to give it everything,” said Morrell.
“We have to use the ball better than we did at Kidderminster, work harder and do all of the bits of the game that we do normally well just better than we did on Saturday.
“It is going to be a tough little contest. Nuneaton are going okay and had a good result on Tuesday. It’s a case of giving it everything and trying to win the game.”
Although he is expecting Nuneaton to put plenty of bodies behind the ball, as they did when when the sides drew 0-0 on September 29, Morrell wants his side to take the initiative from the start.
“Get at them early on and if we can do that, and get into the lead, then we are difficult to peg back,” said Morrell. “I am sure they will do exactly the same as when we played away. They sat in and made it difficult for us, but we have worked on our shape and how to go anout breaking them down.”
Wrexham are on FA Trophy duty next weekend when they host Solihull Moors in a second round tie so Morrell is eager for the fourth placed Reds, who trail leaders Newport County by three points, to sign off with a victory before their next league game at Grimsby in a fortnight.
“We need a few more points on the board just to get that total moving again,” said Morrell. “We will be looking to go full steam and just get the three points.”
Morrell will assess the fitness of striker Danny Wright who is struggling with a hamstring injury while defender Stephen Wright will have an assessment in a bid to get to the root of his calf problem.
“Whether tomorrow’s game is a bit too soon I don’t know but we will assess Danny,” said Morrell. “Stephen is having an assessment on his calfs and orthotics for his footwear on Tuesday because we think it is bio-mechanical more than anything.
“I think it’s that causing him the problem from the beginning so we want to try and solve it.”
Midfielder Glen Little is back in full training and could feature against Solilull next Saturday if he comes through a reserve team match in midweek.