Western Mail

Ricketts enjoying winning feeling

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WREXHAM go in search of a third National League victory in four at Maidenhead United this evening (7.45pm).

After a disappoint­ing end to last season, there is certainly reason for cautious optimism once again at the Racecourse after an excellent start to the campaign under new boss Sam Ricketts.

The 3-0 home victory over Boreham Wood on Saturday made it a third clean sheet in succession, which continues on from last season where they kept 22 – a club record in a campaign.

And former Swansea City and Wales internatio­nal defender Ricketts – in his first managerial role – is pleased to see his players developing a winning mentality.

He said: “Winning is definitely a habit, it is a big difference as a player going out on the pitch expecting to win rather than hoping to win.

“When you have that feeling of expecting to win it is a huge mental shift in your personalit­y and also the team’s personalit­y as well.

“I think we’ve got it. We’ve seen signs where our players won’t give in, they won’t succumb to pressure and won’t succumb to bombardmen­t of long balls. I think the feeling now walking out expecting to win is coming with confidence, really as much as anything.

“We have had a good first week, two wins and a draw and I think that feeling now, walking out knowing that if we turn up and play to our best we have got a very, very good chance of winning the game.”

Tonight’s opponents Maidenhead are still yet to win a game so far with a draw and two defeats from their opening three matches.

They led twice at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday through goals from Ayo Obileye and Nana Owusu, but were twice pegged back with the game finishing 2-2.

The Magpies also finished the game with 10 men after Alan Massey was dismissed for two bookings.

Wrexham were 2-1 winners on their last visit to York Road last August with Manny Smith getting both goals.

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> Sam Ricketts

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