Wright in tribute to players

Feb 6 2009 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

Wright in tribute to players

MARK Wright has paid tribute to the ever-dwindling band of Blues players who are trying to secure the club’s League Two status.

Without a win since Boxing Day, City are slowly being clawed into the relegation dogfight.

Financial difficulties behind the scenes and a series of injury and suspension problems have not made Wright’s job any easier.

But the Chester manager knows that while results haven’t always been good since the turn of the year, it has not been through a lack of effort from the team.

“The players who are here deserve a massive pat on the back,” said Wright.

“I’d like to thank them. They’ve worked their socks off and it’s not their fault that players are going left, right and centre.”

The next challenge for the Blues is a trip to promotion-chasers Brentford tomorrow, although the heavy snow which gripped the south of England this week has put the fixture in doubt.

There will be an inspection at 1pm today of the Griffin Park pitch, which was covered in almost a foot of snow on Monday.

Glenn Rule returns from his two-match ban tomorrow, but Laurence Wilson is still suspended and a clutch of Chester players are nursing knocks from Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Rochdale. While Richie Partridge (hamstring) is not expected to be fit, Wright will be hoping Paul Linwood (groin), John Danby (knee), Damien Mozika (hamstring) and Shaun Kelly (knee) pull through after they missed training yesterday.

Wright has been impressed with Kelly’s form since his earlier-than-expected return from a knee injury against Gillingham on Saturday.

“Shaun Kelly’s done exceptionally well,” said Wright. “He’s a strong boy. You saw him the other day get in a bit of a tangle with (Rochdale’s) Lee McEvilly, and I like that. He’s done exceptionally well and I’ve got a lot of time for him.”

For news of this afternoon’s pitch inspection at Griffin Park, visit the website www.chesterchronicle.co.uk