Wrexham are ready for their 4G pitch challenge in the Vanarama National League.
The Dragons have back-to-back away fixtures against Sutton United on Saturday and leaders Harrogate next Tuesday, both on 4G playing surfaces.
Manager Sam Ricketts and his Wrexham team are second in the table, one point behind Harrogate, and Ricketts says: “Playing two games on 4G in quick succession is a good thing.
“You are getting them out of the way and if you are playing on 4G on the Saturday, to go again on the Tuesday you should hopefully be a little bit more conducive to it.
I don’t like 4G but you just have to deal with it.”
Wrexham have been training on 4G pitched in North Wales this week, but Ricketts admits: “The problem with 4G is that they are not all the same.
“Modern ones are different to ones which have been down five years.
“The players have played on it before. It is not ideal, I don’t think football should be played on 4G, but that is my own personal preference.
“We just have to prepare as well as we can and the fortunate thing is we have got two games back-to-back on 4G.
“We have to keep being able to adapt and change ways. If you are going to be good, you need to be able to handle all situations.”
Wrexham won 4-1 against Ebbsfleet at home in their last fixture and Ricketts was delighted, saying it was their ‘best performance of the season’.
Now Ricketts’ Reds travel to play Sutton United at their Gander Green Lane home. They were play-off semi-finalists last season and are currently seventh in the table, five points behind second-placed Wrexham with a game in hand.
“It’s about building and trying to improve again,” says the manager. “Going away, playing on a 4G pitch. It’s a tough test.”
Ricketts expects to have Mark Carrington available at Sutton and insists he is he is not thinking about the match at leaders Harrogate next Tuesday.
“We’re all about Sutton until we go there,” he said. “If we go there and put in a performance then on the way home we can start thinking about Harrogate.”
Sutton striker Ross Lafayette is leading scorer for the Amber & Chocolate with four goals, including winners against Salford City and Maidstone. The 32-year old forward is strong, powerful and a dangerous forward.
Defender Manny Smith is still out injured, but apart from that Wrexham have a healthy squad.
Vanarama National League Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | Harrogate Town | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 25 |
| 2. | Wrexham | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 24 |
| 3. | Leyton Orient | 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 23 |
| 4. | Salford City | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 21 |
| 5. | AFC Fylde | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 20 |
| 6. | Hartlepool United | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 20 |
| 7. | Boreham Wood | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 19 |
| 8. | Sutton United | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 19 |
| 9. | Solihull Moors | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 19 |
| 10. | FC Halifax Town | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 18 |
| 11. | Gateshead | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 17 |
| 12. | Barnet | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 17 |
| 13. | Maidenhead United | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 14 |
| 14. | Ebbsfleet United | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 14 |
| 15. | Barrow | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 12 |
| 16. | Chesterfield | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 11 |
| 17. | Eastleigh | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 11 |
| 18. | Bromley | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 16 | -1 | 10 |
| 19. | Aldershot Town | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 10 |
| 20. | Dagenham & Redbridge | 11 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 9 |
| 21. | Havant & Waterlooville | 11 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 9 |
| 22. | Maidstone United | 11 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 7 |
| 23. | Braintree Town | 11 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 6 |
| 24. | Dover Athletic | 11 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 22 | -12 | 6 |
