Chester get chance to save themselves

Apr 26 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESTER CITY get another chance to secure their Coca-Cola League Two safety this afternoon, when they travel The New Meadow to face Shrewsbury Town.

City have three matches left to save their Football League status, but they need to start converting some of the chances they are creating, otherwise the unthinkable will become a reality.

Chester have wasted a host of opportunities in front of goal in their last two matches against Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers, which has put added pressure on the side, a point not lost on manager Simon Davies.

He said: “It’s the biggest game for a while for Chester City and we don’t want to be going into that last week still fearing relegation, because Stockport in particular are going to be flying when we play them. We just want to make sure we do our business this weekend and get it all wrapped up.

“It’s a big game and we’ve just got to match them. I am very confident that we’ve got the better players in our dressing room. We will give them the respect they deserve, but we will go about our business and go to win the game.”

Davies agreed a two-year contract with City earlier this week and he remains up-beat about the task ahead.

He said: “It was good news that I received a new two year contract as team manager. But I think it’s all about stability now, because everything was up in the air and everybody at the club wondered what was going to happen.

“Now we know I’m in charge for our last three games and beyond. So we can start first and foremost to make sure that we are in the right division by winning our match at Shrewsbury. When we get the right result at Shrewsbury, we can then go into our last two games by planning for next season.”

Davies added: “Stephen Vaughan (Chester City’s owner) and the club staff have been fantastic with the support they have shown to me.

“They have backed me all the way since I was originally appointed.

“Our future is in our hands and if we continue to play the way we have, things will come right.”

Davies, who celebrated his 34th birthday on Wednesday, will have to watch today’s game from the stands, as he is serving the second match of a two-game ban, imposed after an incident during a recent FA Youth Cup tie.

He said: “When you are on the side, you can shout instructions in general play.

“When you are in the stands, by the time you get on your phone and speak to someone on the bench, it’s happened.”

Chester will be bolstered this afternoon by the return to action of midfield players Kevin Ellison and Ritchie Partridge, following injury, while Tony Grant will also be included in the squad. Striker Chris Holroyd missed out because of an ankle injury.

CHESTER CITY (from): Danby, Palethorpe, Vaughan, Roberts, Kelly, Linwood, Wilson, Partridge, Rutherford, Hughes, Rule, Sandwith, Grant, Ellison, McManus, Murphy, Walker.