City Simon's only concern
SIMON DAVIES insisted that tomorrow's match at high-flying Wycombe Wanderers was all about his team.
The Chester City boss wants his players to focus their thoughts on a team game as they attempt to claw their way to safety at Adams Park (3pm kick-off).
Chester are currently five points above Mansfield in the relegation zone with just four league games remaining, while Wycombe are battling to win a play-off place.
Davies said: "I think we can take a lot of plusses from our performances in recent weeks.
"I was impressed with the way we have acquitted ourselves against Hereford, and we certainly created plenty of chances last weekend against Lincoln. But we need points, and I still don't know how we didn't beat Lincoln – it's baffled me all week.
"But we'll push on now and focus on tomorrow's game against Wycombe.
"I went to watch Wycombe at Grimsby on Tuesday night and it was encouraging to see Wycombe playing good football which should suit us.
"Wycombe reminded me of Hereford in the way they got the ball down and played, and they do things in the right way which is the way I would like to see us play.
"Wycombe's home record is the mark of a good team at any level – if you don't leak goals and you have someone scoring at the other end you've always got a chance.
"It will be a tough game and we will give them the respect that they merit with the position they are in, but I'm quietly confident.
"I'm not sure how many points they think they'll need to secure their play-off spot, and I'm not sure whether that will make a difference with their team choice.
"But we've done our homework on them and we're more concerned about ourselves and the way we're going to play.
"If we continue to create chances like we did against Lincoln then we'll cause teams problems."
Davies has continued to provide ideas and opportunities to his squad in training this week.
He added: "We had a few extra training sessions last week with the emphasis on shooting and taking chances.
"I'm keen to provide the lads with ideas and opportunities in terms of shooting, but once they cross the white line and the crowd start getting on their backs, they start to miss chances, and it's then up to the individual.
"But I've been really encouraged by the way we've created chances and I know some of our more experienced players believed our performance against Lincoln was our best of the season.
"We'll take a lot from that performance, but obviously I'd like to see a few more shots ending up in the back of the net."
Davies is hoping that striker Chris Holroyd and midfielder Tony Grant can both be available for selection for tomorrow after they both returned to training earlier this week.
Holroyd has been nursing an ankle injury, and Grant has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Davies said: "Chris Holroyd and Tony Grant are back in the mix after returning to training, but whether tomorrow's game will be too soon for them I'm not so sure, but it's encouraging to have them back.
"Richie Partridge is doing his best to get fit for tomorrow, but I think he'll be another week and I'm hoping he'll be right for our game against Shrewsbury.
"And Kevin Ellison is another doubt for tomorrow after receiving a knock on the thigh in training during the week."
Two players definitely being ruled out of contention are Paul Butler and Tony Dinning who have been suspended by Chester until the end of
the season due to a breach of club discipline.
The full article contains 624 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
18 April 2008 2:26 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Chester