Wrexham next to visit Fortress Vic Park

By Albatross
September 30 2003

A year without a league defeat at the Vic accomplished, and another home game. This time it's Wrexham, and the North Wales side will be looking to improve their already impressive record away from home. Should be a good game then....

With a full year without league defeat at the Vic clocked up, Wrexham are the latest to have a tilt at knocking our record on the head. And contrary to what some may think, the Welsh side are likely to provide another stiff test for Pools.

Wrexham currently sit in 13th place in Division 2, two points behind Pools but with a game in hand. As expected, following the departures of Andy Morrell and Lee Trundle they are finding goals somewhat harder to come by, notching nine so far in the league - one a game - and conceding the same amount. They haven't been helped though by the lack of fitness of Chris Armstrong; after returning to his first pro club, the former Spurs man has managed just two appearances so far and is highly unlikely to be on the team sheet tonight. Another player who won't be appearing is French forward Armand One; he was on trial at Wrexham, but vanished before a reserve game and had his trial terminated when he finally got back in contact!

In fact, Wrexham's main goal threat so far this season has been Trinidad defender Dennis Lawrence; the 6'7" player has hit the back of the net three times, and is sure to be a danger at set pieces. Lee Jones is probably the forward most likely to score, having scored in both of the Robins last two games.

While things may not have been going too well up front, Wrexham still have players capable of causing problems for Pools. Carlos Edwards in particular is a name that anyone at the Racecourse for our defeat last season will remember; the wide man seemed capable of tearing us to pieces at times in that game, and if he's in anything like that form at the moment he will cause us trouble again. With the likes of Jim Whitley and Darren Ferguson pulling the strings in midfield, Wrexham have the players to cause Pools a few problems.

Last line of defence is going to be former Poolie Andy Dibble. Although now so old that he makes Gabbiadini seem like a youngster, Dibble has once again been showing good form this season and has recently been publicly praised by boss Denis "Stigma" Smith. We know from last season that he gets fired up playing against us, though hopefully this time he'll avoid offering to meet the entire Town End outside.....

Shaun Holmes may well start the game after impressing - and scoring - as a sub against Tranmere at the weekend, but Craig Morgan is struggling with a back injury and will probably miss out.

Recent form hasn't been good for the North Wales side; three defeats (two at home) and a draw before a 2-1 win at Tranmere on Saturday that saw Rovers boss Ray Mathias given his marching orders. Away from home though, they have one of the best records in the division with three wins from their four games - including a victory over Sheffield Wednesday. We shouldn't under-estimate them.

For Pools, the only new injury worry is young Aussie Adam Van Domelle, who badly injured his leg while playing for the youth team at the weekend. While not good news - the game was delayed for some time and it was initially feared he'd broken his leg - Van Domelle would almost certainly not have been in the squad for this game anyway. Will we see the same lineup from Pools again? I doubt it; one of Cooper's comments was about the lack of quality balls into the box, and one way to address that would be to move Ritchie Humphreys into a more advanced role. Whether it's Robson, Jordan, Brackstone or Robinson, don't be surprised to see one of them coming in to relieve Humphreys of his defensive responsibilities.

We may still see a 3-5-2 formation though. Wrexham usually play this way, and last season at the Racecourse we struggled to cope with it playing 4-4-2. It may be that we switch back to 4-3-3, or stick with the formation and shuffle the personnel; either way, I'd expect a couple of changes.

Prediction time then, and although Wrexham will not make it easy, I think this is a game Pools can and will win. 2-1, with Humphreys and Gabbiadini to grab the goals.