HALL - WREXHAM ON A ROLL
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

PAUL HALL believes Wrexham have made other teams sit up and take notice of their survival intentions with their recent revival.

The much-travelled former Jamaican international arrived at Wrexham in January on loan from League One outfit Walsall with the Reds involved in a relegation dogfight for a second successive campaign.

Wrexham had only accumulated 15 points when Hall was drafted in with half of the season remaining, but the Reds have more than doubled that total and now have 32 points with 11 matches remaining.

And the 35-year-old striker believes Wrexham's current form - just two defeats in 11 outings - has given the Reds a fantastic chance of avoiding relegation.

"When I first came here, we were dead and buried in some people's eyes," said Hall today.

"But we have picked a fair few points to go with the 15 we had then, and we are chasing the other teams down.

"We have turned the situation around which has helped massively and we have got a great chance.

"It is no use harbouring thoughts of going down because we have done so well lately.

"If we were mid-table and been in the form we have been, we would be somewhere near the top. It has not been relegation form.

"We need to carry it on and turn those games in hand we have got on teams above us into points. If we can do that I don't think we will be worried.

"No-one wants to play us and our run-in is quite favourable."

Victory against Bury last weekend means basement side Wrexham are now four points away from safety, and just one point behind second from bottom Mansfield Town, with games in hand on their rivals.

But Mansfield and Macclesfield also picked up three points, and Hall said a number of teams will now be worried about a possible relegation battle because the bottom clubs are picking up results.

"Mansfield are looking over their shoulders at us but we are closing in on other teams too," said Hall.

"They don't want the bottom two winning so frequently, as they have been.

"The likes of Notts County will now be talking about having to win games, but the bottom two have been winning.

"We have gone on a decent enough run and we have to keep that run going. But the other teams at the bottom have also done well.

"You don't expect other teams down there to win when you do.

"If we can get a good amount of points over Easter, it will claw a few more teams back into it.

"The more teams drawn into it with the bottom few winning means it becomes anybody's."

Hall has made five league starts and two as a substitute for the Reds since recruited by manager Brian Little, his former boss at Tranmere Rovers.

The experienced striker's spell was interrupted by a hamstring injury, but Hall has returned to the starting line-up in recent matches and scored the opening goal in the 2-0 derby victory at Chester City, his first strike for the Reds.

And Hall said Wrexham's run-in - including home matches against fellow strugglers Macclesfield and Notts County - is eagerly anticipated.

"I am looking forward to the run-in and am glad the games are coming thick and fast," said Hall. "I am enjoying it here. They are a good set of lads and the fans have been great.

"I came back from injury and got on the scoresheet which was nice from my point of view because whatever club you play, you want to score goals."

Hall will be hoping Wrexham build on last weekend's 2-1 victory over Bury in their Easter double header at Brentford on Saturday and against Dagenham and Redbridge at The Racecourse on Monday.

"It was a very good win against Bury," added Hall. "We went out there needing to win and we got three points.

"It was one of those games where we dominated the first half, but then Bury had us with a sucker punch.

"It could have finished 1-1 but up popped Michael Proctor to score the winner. We showed character and came through well, so we go into these two games in good spirits."

- Wrexham reserves take on Morecambe tonight in a Pontin's League fixture at Buckley Town's Globe Way (7pm).

Midfielders Danny Williams and Mark Jones continue their comebacks from injury while a number of other first team squad members will also be in action.

TRIO RETURN FOR WREXHAM
Mark Currie - Daily Post

DANNY SONNER, Neil Roberts and Jeff Whitley are set to give Wrexham an Easter boost by declaring themselves available for Saturday's trip to Brentford.

The experienced trio are all expected to be in training today as the Dragons begin their build-up to the Griffin Park clash and manager Brian Little has also received better news about defenders Carl Tremarco and Neil Taylor.

Both limped off before the end of last Saturday's 2-1 win over Bury, prompting fears that they were facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but the Racecourse boss was in a happier frame of mind yesterday.

"We need to check on both Carl and young Neil, but their injuries are not as bad as we first thought," he said.

"Neil (Roberts) should be training and both Danny and Jeff should also be okay, which is good news for everyone."

Little is optimistic that striker Drewe Broughton, whose month-long loan spell ends next Tuesday, will sign up for a further month, subject to clearance from League Two promotion hopefuls MK Dons and their manager Paul Ince.

Broughton, who scored his first Wrexham goal at the weekend, is keen to extend his stay even though he would then miss the Dons date at Wembley in next month's JPT final.

If the deal goes through it would almost certainly rule out any last-ditch moves into the market ahead of next Thursday's transfer deadline.

"You never stop looking around," admitted Little. "We have been at a few games in the week to keep our fingers on the pulse, but the fact is that we did a lot of business in January and we have a fair number of players here now.

"More important than that, though, is the fact that we have a good spirit going and we are very wary about messing that up. We definitely feel we are moving in the right direction and we want to keep it that way.

"If we genuinely believed there was someone out there just right for us, we'd obviously be interested, but we are not going to do something for the sake of it and we are more than happy with the group of players here."

Wrexham's reserves are in Pontins League action this evening, with Morecambe providing the opposition at Buckley's Town's Globe Way ground (7pm).

The match, originally scheduled for last Monday, was postponed at short notice because the visitors got their dates mixed up - an oversight that could cost the Christie Park club a fine.

Dragons coach Joey Jones has a mix of seasoned and young professionals available for the match, including Danny Williams and Mark Jones continuing their comebacks from injury.

And there is a long awaited return too for young substitute Alex Darlington, who has not played for more than 12 months after twice breaking his leg.