MICK Wadsworth has called on the Blues to end their home hoodoo.
You have to go back 14 matches to Boxing Day for the last time City won in front of their own fans – and if that sequence continues, Wadsworth’s unenviable task of keeping the club in the Blue Square Premier will become impossible.
Chester have so far chipped only two points off their massive 25-point penalty, but they have the perfect chance to make up ground on the rest of the league with back-to-back home games against Histon on Saturday and promoted Tamworth on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Blues boss Wadsworth said: “We desperately need the win and not just for the reason that we haven’t won at home in so long.
“We’ve shown good improvements in the last few weeks but now is the time to turn our improvement into results.
“It has been tough and it’s going to carry on being tough because the points deduction is a monkey on everybody’s back.
“But we’ve got to keep on fighting and we’ll be doing everything we can to send the fans home happy on Saturday.”
Wadsworth is contemplating handing Gregg Blundell his first start of the season after he made lively appearances from the bench in Monday’s derby draw at Altrincham and Saturday’s home loss to Mansfield Town.
The experienced striker also came through 80 minutes of yesterday’s behind-closed-doors clash with Macclesfield Town at the Deva.
City supporters will have to wait a little longer to see Fabian Yantorno in action, though. The Uruguayan made his first appearance for the club in last Wednesday’s reserve-team match against Crewe Alexandra, but he suffered a reaction to his long-standing knee injury and yesterday flew back to his homeland to try to bring an end to the problem.
Yantorno’s absence means Wadsworth’s side is lacking in creativity – a situation the manager hopes the return of Anthony Barry can remedy. The midfielder, having been out for three weeks with an ankle injury, is in with a shot of being fit for Saturday having played the final 20 minutes of the 1-0 loss to Macclesfield.
Centre-back Shaun Kelly lasted 70 minutes but Kevin Roberts is a doubt for the visit of Histon after suffering concussion against Altrincham.
Wadsworth is continuing to run the rule over on-trial Argentine winger Andreas, who, having done well against Crewe, caught the eye again yesterday.
Former Chester defender Danny Collins this week made a transfer deadline-day switch from Sunderland to Premier League rivals Stoke City for £2.75m.
Buckley-born Collins moved to the Stadium of Light five years ago in a deal worth £140,000 to the Blues, whose request for a sell-on clause was refused by the Wearsiders.
