About 150. I was near the front so it was difficult to judge. The same as with the home crowds, we should be taking more. All the talk on the messageboard last week was about Boston and Hull. Wrexham was a much more important game in terms of league position than either of those, and yet only got incidental mentions.
What was the atmosphere like
It started OK with a Brian Laws Barmy Army chant, but fizzled out with the team. Some of the younger lads tried their best to keep it going though. Wrexham has a rather large away end by third division standards and people were more scattered than usual (and that was nothing to do with the local brews).
What did you make of the ground?
Now that they have developed the stand to the right of the away end it is definately one of the best in the division. The home end terrace is the oldest part, and there are three seating areas. Personally I don't like their new stand. It is all modern and neat, like that strange stand at Lincoln, but didn't seem to be enough seats for the area that it took up. Still, I'd swop it for any of ours so more of those 20 year regulars could have tickets whenever they fancied a trip to GP.
Should they have been awarded the penalty?
NO, NO, NO. Don't think so anyway. The incident was at the other end of the ground, and Ferguson was playing for it. The ball was heading out towards the corner flag, Ferguson saw Byrne coming and knocked the ball past him, he was going down contact or not. TV might prove me wrong but that's how I saw it, though there wasn't much of a protest from our players.
Lawsy said he had no complaints about Dawson's red card, what did you make of it?
I think I'm in the minority on this one but I didn't agree with it. The first yellow was justified as Dawson fairly assaulted their guy, who made a meal of it. for the second he shouldn't have dived in but we were losing and needed the ball. How many players who have already been booked have we seen let off for challenges like this?
Should have got away with a stern last warning. I am not convinced he touched their guy either, all I want is some of the C word (not the one surrounded by S'Thorpe).
Consistency.
What about Sparrow's goal?
Good goal. Hayes laid the ball off well and Sparrow struck it to the left of the goal, hitting it sweet and low giving the keeper no chance. He had been having one of his poorest games of the season, but that's allowed now and again considering how well he has been playing.
Lawsy also blasted the performance of the players, how bad were they?
We were awful, and got what we deserved from the game. Wrexham played a 3-5-2 formation with two pretty quick wingbacks, and it is a difficult formation to play against. I should know as on Championship Manager I have lead Scunny to Champions League success with it.
We tried the funny 4-5-1-cum-4-3-3 formation first half, and Featherstone seemed to want to play up front to make it 4-4-2. But he would have been better occupied at left wingback. I'm not sure everybody understood what they were trying to achieve, or didn't agree with it and tried something else. I can't see 4-5-1 working with Ghandi up front (not a criticism, it's just not his game). We have used it succesfully away from home to get a point, but is too negative for me. Anyway, it only works with Torps doing the job up front, or maybe Hayes in the future.
I agree with his comments about Brough and Featherstone, who weren't occupying the wingbacks. We didn't really fare any better in the second half at 4-4-2. We did better in the last ten minutes playing with 3-4-2.
What did you think to the officials?
I can only remember moaning at the linesman once. Two major decisions have gone against us, and I'm getting paranoid. This season it is the Iron against the rest of the world.
Finally, based on today's game how do you think Wrexham will fare over the season?
They'll make the playoffs. they are strong, well organsied and are the top scorers in the division so far. I think Bournemouth are a better side and will get the third place spot. That leaves Wrexham, Oxford, Bury, Cambridge and us vying for the playoffs.
If you took us out of the equation then I'd take Wrexham to be promoted in Cardiff. That's put the kiss of death on them eh, as Bristol Rovers made me look silly yesterday.
Thanks again to Steve for taking part in our Away Days feature. We are still looking for fans to share their experiences of away games, if you would like to take part please email us at awaydays@iron-bru.net.