MANSFIELD WIN IS CRUCIAL SAYS CARL TREMARCO
Mark Currie - Daily Post

DEFENDER Carl Tremarco has branded Wrexham's League Two basement clash with Mansfield Town tomorrow a cup final for both sides.

Speaking after the Dragons' six-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Peterborough United on Tuesday evening, Tremarco said: "We knew the run was going to come to an end sometime and we've got to crack on now.

"We just have to put this one to the back of our minds because Mansfield is a big game and we have a lot more to come against the teams around us.

"Just because we lost to Peterborough doesn't mean we have to panic because there are still a lot of points to play for.

"And, to be honest, if we don't pick up the points against the teams around us, we won't deserve to stay up."

Despite Tuesday's reverse in which Posh defender Jamie Day scored from two second half free kicks, Tremarco said Wrexham could be pleased with their overall performance.

"They didn't really hurt us at all in open play and it was the same against Grimsby last Saturday," he added.

"We were the better team then, but we are at the bottom of the league and that's the way things go when you are down there.

"You need a little bit of luck, but we have not had that in the last two games. So now we have to prepare for Saturday's game with Mansfield.

"It's going to be our cup final isn't it - the bottom two just going at it."

The defender's view is shared by Racecourse favourite Danny Williams, who is targeting a return to the first team squad in time for next weekend's derby visit to Chester City.

"I'm sure everyone thinks Saturday's is a must-win game," he said.

"There was no disgrace in losing to Peterborough the other night because the points that count will be up for grabs when we play the teams in and around us.

"They are the games we have to win if we are to survive and that starts against Mansfield on Saturday.

"We can only take one game at a time but if we beat them hopefully that will breed a bit of confidence."

Williams, who continued his comeback following back surgery with a reserve-team outing at Bury on Wednesday, reckons he is now close to full fitness and almost ready to play his part in the club's battle against relegation.

"The derby game has come just at the right time because I hope to be fit and back in the squad sometime next week," he added.

"I don't expect to go straight back into the side because there are a lot of other players here, but I'll just wait for my opportunity - whether in midfield or defence it doesn't really bother me."

Although impatient to return to league action, Williams accepts that manager Brian Little is unlikely to make too many changes for the Deva Stadium clash if the Dragons pick up three vital points tomorrow.

He said: "I'll probably have another reserve team game in the week because I just want to make sure my back is right. It's been a problem for three or four years.

"As far as first team football is concerned it's not about me, it's about Wrexham winning.

"Survival is all that matters to me, so it's not about individuals it's about the football club now and what's best for everyone."

LLEWELLYN WANTS TO CLOSE THE GAP
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

CHRIS LLEWELLYN is focused on reeling in Mansfield Town - but also to close the gap on all the other teams struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Basement side Wrexham, six points away from safety, play host to second from bottom Mansfield tomorrow at The Racecourse (3pm) in a real six-point relegation battle.

Wrexham trail Mansfield by four points but have played a game less than the Stags, and the sides will meet again at Field Mill in another crucial fixture at the start of April.

Llewellyn knows how vital the clash against the Stags is and the 28-year-old is targeting three points to enable Wrexham to keep track of the other teams, such as Macclesfield and Bury, who are also deep in trouble at the bottom.

"I suppose it is as near as they come to being a must-win game," said Llewellyn today.

"We know the importance of it and probably have to win because if Mansfield do, we are stranded a bit.

"And if we win it puts pressure on all the other teams down there. We are not just interested in second from bottom, we have to try and suck third and fourth from bottom into it and tighten it up.

"It is a big three points to play for, and Mansfield can't get any points if we get them.

"We will give it our best shot."

Wrexham's six game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Peterborough United.

Llewellyn was pleased with the results in that unbeaten spell against teams challenging for promotion, and the Wales international said Wrexham have to follow them up during a busy March which sees the Reds face a number of other teams still battling to avoid the drop.

"We have done well in recent weeks but so have other teams," said Llewellyn. "But good performances count for nothing if you don't get the result.

"It is time to start closing the gap.

"We have played all the decent teams recently, had some good performances and only lost one game in seven.

"I think we've done well against teams at the top. Now we have to repeat those performances against teams around us, and we need to try and take all three points."

A run of three consecutive clean sheets was ended in midweek against Darren Ferguson's Peterborough who scored their two goals from well taken free-kicks.

But failure to score at the other end meant that Wrexham have now gone three games without finding the back of the net themselves.

Delighted with the improvement in defence, Llewellyn admitted that Wrexham, the lowest scorers in the division, have got to start improving in front of goal.

"We need to start scoring goals," said Llewellyn. "When the gaffer took over we were letting in silly goals, own goals and making stupid mistakes.

"But we have stopped doing those things, the defence is looking solid and the two goals we conceded the other night against Peterborough were not from open play.

"We need to be more creative going forward and be more ruthless in front of goal.

"We have been working on crossing and putting good balls into the box, and we have to take advantage of them.

"Goals need to come from all over the place."

With tomorrow's crunch encounter against Mansfield being played on St David's Day, Merthyr-born Llewellyn is hoping the patriotic Welsh in the crowd will inspire Wrexham.

"It is a big game and it is also St David's Day," added Llewellyn. "I am sure the crowd will give it all the emotion that brings and hopefully that will work in our favour."