DEAN KEATES still has reservations about artificial playing surfaces but you won't hear the Reds' boss complaining about Sutton United's pitch.

Wrexham have a terrible record on 3G or 4G pitches but the Reds finally broke their artificial turf hoodoo when they triumphed 2-0 at Harrogate in January 2020, and Keates’ side have since won and drawn on the same surface at Bromley.

Despite the upturn in form, artificial pitches are still frowned upon and the Reds must negotiate another one tomorrow when they come up against title contenders Sutton at Gander Green Lane.

But Keates says this surface is more bearable because the second placed U's, who have won their last five games to move just one point behind leaders Torquay with two games in hand, water the pitch.

"It gets spoken about every time we play on 4G," said Keates. "There is no point talking about it, you just get on with it.

"One thing that Sutton do is they water it.

"These pitches need watering, that is my biggest concern about it.

"When there is a little bit of zip on it and you can move the ball then it is not a problem.

"When it gets dry, then it becomes an issue. You have concerns of players' feet being stuck and then you are looking at ankle injuries and knee injuries.

"But when there is a bit of water on it and it is moving, it moves as good if not better than grass pitches."