WREXHAM manager Brian Carey hailed his captain Neil Roberts after the striker came off the bench to secure a vital three points against Torquay United with only his fourth goal of the season.
Returning after a three-match absence due to injury, Roberts struck 11 minutes from time to give the Dragons a second successive victory and keep them marginally ahead of Boston United in the battle to avoid relegation.
And with Macclesfield , Accrington Stanley and Bury all still anxiously looking over their shoulders, Carey said: “It was a great win and we are delighted. That’s what we have got to keep doing in the games we’ve got left. If we do that, regardless of what goes on elsewhere we will be okay.
“Back-to-back wins could not have come at a better time for us after such a long time and as we know winning becomes a habit so I’m hoping that will continue now until the end of the season.
“Neil has had a very stop-start season and the club has missed him, but full credit to him today because he came on and got the goal as well as being a massive influence on the team.
“He’s a leader out there and he led by example when he came on.”
Roberts’ goal vindicated Carey’s decision to send him on, although the sight of Michael Proctor making way provoked a hostile reaction from the home fans.
“The substitution didn’t seem too popular at the time, but that’s fair enough,” added the Racecourse boss.
“I thought Mike Proctor was absolutely terrific today but I felt it was important to get the captain on the pitch because he’s a big player for us.
“Mike was unlucky to come off because he played a big part for us but I had to get Neil on.”
Wrexham now face two away matches in five days, at Shrewsbury tomorrow and Walsall on Saturday seeking the points that will put pressure on their rivals in the danger zone.
But he said: “We have to concentrate on ourselves and we can’t bother about what has happened anywhere else. We just have to win our own games. We have to make sure we are right for Tuesday night and go and try and win the game at Shrewsbury.
“It won’t be easy because they are doing well but our away form has been very, very good and we are hoping that will continue in the next two away games.”
And Carey had some sympathy for already-relegated Torquay and their coach, Keith Curle.
“The thing about Torquay today was that they played with a sense of freedom, which I knew they would,” he added.
“I know their coach very well from my time at Leicester City and he’s one of the best in the business, despite Torquay’s position.
“They were very comfortable and with him in charge they won’t be down there too long. They played some good football so we are delighted we got the better of them.”
Curle claimed he could not have asked for more from his players. “I think the important thing was their attitude and also their professionalism,” he said.
“In footballing terms I think we matched Wrexham although they had the lions’ share of the game in the first half.
On Wrexham’s chances of staying up Curle added: “They are organised , they are disciplined and they’ve got good players, and I wish them well in their fight for survival.”
