Morrell Satisfied With Performance After Changes To Lineup

Wrexham player-manager Andy Morrell praised his much-changed lineup after they secured their place in this season’s play-offs with a 1-0 win over Cambridge United last night.

An early goal from Jay Colbeck, making his first league start of the season, was the difference between the two sides, who played out a flaccid 90 minutes.

“We needed a point and I thought the lads were great,” said Morrell.

“I switched it around a little bit today, just thought we needed to freshen it up and given a few of the lads a chance, and they’ve all done well so I’m really pleased for them. It’s a good win and we’re in the play-offs, so now we have to look towards whatever date it is later this month, and make sure everyone’s fit for then.”

Colbeck’s goal was borne of a rare moment of inspiration from an otherwise low-key affair, as he finished off a fine team move, with Declan Walker prominent.

“When we move the ball, and move it quickly, with one or two touches we’re a handful,” said Morrell. “It’s when we start dilly dallying on it a little bit that we get into trouble and get things nicked off us. But they dug in at the end there and we probably deserved to win it.”

The game presented itself as an ideal opportunity for some of the more junior members of Morrell’s squad to impress, and he admitted that there is much to take from their performances.

“I learnt a little bit about a few of them,” said the player-manager. “Some of them haven’t had a chance in the first team for a while, and to come from nowhere – not even in the squad or anything like that – to bounce straight in and play in a game that’s important, because we needed a point still and they’ve stood up and been counted.

“I’ve said all along that it’s going to be a squad that’s going to get us where we want to be, and that proved the point today.”

The victory also saw the return of Dave Artell to the starting eleven after his recent spell on the sidelines, alleviating a deepening injury crisis at centre-half, which has been exposed in the past week by injuries to Chris Westwood and Martin Riley.

“I’m delighted for him,” revealed Morrell. “He’s a bit disappointed with himself because he’s come here to play games and hasn’t managed that because of his foot but he’s been given the all-clear and he rang me yesterday to say he’s good to go. That’s the sort of player that we want here.

“It was either me at centre-half or him. He’s stiff now and all that, so is Leon because he hasn’t played for that long, but both of them booted it and headed it like we wanted them to.”

Young midfielder Rob Evans impressed in a 45 minute second-half cameo, and Morrell was effusive in his praise of the youngster’s maturity on-the-ball.

“He’s a tidy, tidy footballer. I really like him. He’s a young lad with bundles of energy who gets about the pitch. He knows how to play the game already as a young boy. He’s got a huge future for me.”

Morrell admitted that the need to rest players and juggle his squad has affected preparations for the visit of second-placed Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday, so much so that he has not committed any thoughts to the fixture.

“I haven’t thought about the team for Saturday, let’s worry about that nearer the time, see how any of the injuries are. But if there are any niggles or knocks I won’t risk them. Even though it’s on telly, it’s a big game and Kiddy are going for the title that’s not my issue now. My issue is my team and I will make sure that they’ve got every chance to be fit for the play-offs.”

With the play-offs now looming within the next fortnight, the player-manager has prioritised the health and fitness of his players over the club’s final league standing.

“There’s no monetary incentive to finishing third, but you play your second game at home if you finish third and you want to finish as high up in the league as you can. But I’m not bothered to put that in jeopardy to the detriment of my players. We’ll take each game as it comes and make sure everybody’s ready for the last game of the season and the play-offs.”

Wrexham will be hoping to make it third time lucky in the 2013 play-offs, and Morrell closed by admitting that he has learnt much from last season’s agonising two-leg defeat to Luton.

When asked what he has learned specifically from his play-off experience, he replied “Not to be 2 or 3-0 down in the first leg.”

“Give yourself a chance,” he continued. “You have to turn up at every game or you get turned over. I’m hoping that we’ve learned a bit from the last couple of years. I was a bit naive last year, maybe I’ve learnt a bit, but I’m hoping the players have learned as much as me. I’m sure we’ll be a different prospect this year.”