Blues will be determined to eradicate self-inflicted wounds in Friday night’s Championship match at Wrexham.
They have lost their last three games on the road, without scoring, and on each occasion – as well as in midweek against Sheffield Wednesday – lapses in concentration and mistakes have proven costly.
With Wrexham’s style best described as ‘direct’, it is unlikely to be an evening for niceties. Plus, the hosts have yet to win at home this season.
“From our point of view, we have to turn what have been some promising performances into results,” said Chris Davies.
“We have had a few periods in games that have been below our normal level – but we have been competitive in others and taken nothing from them.
“What we need to do is make sure we keep the back door shut. There’s no silly mistakes, there’s nothing that goes in that shouldn’t go in, and then we can from there use our possession, use our football and take one of our chances and turn what have been signs of good performances away from home into results.”
The comment about keeping the back door shut is pertinent.
Jack Robinson could come in for Eiran Cashin on his return from suspension. And Phil Neumann could be an option at right-back, if Davies elects to add height and a more robust way of playing, similar to what he did last season when Krystian Bielik shifted across to the full-back position for a spell in winter.
Jay Stansfield (ankle) and Bright Osayi-Samuel (foot) should be available after coming off during the 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.
There isn’t the same hullabaloo around this fixture as there was a year ago, when the so-called ‘Hollywood derby’ received worldwide attention off the back of the respective owners.
The continual jibes involving Tom Brady, Tom Wagner, Ryan Renolds and Rob McElhenney were good-natured and such knockabout stuff was also designed to raise the profiles of both clubs.
To Davies, the hype was of little concern then, as now.
“We had it last season, two games against Wrexham both of which had a lot of noise around them. It’s not hard for me to not get distracted by that because I don’t engage or look at it.
“It’s just another game.
“As I always say to the players, just focus on the football. There is nothing external that should derail us from what’s important.”
Davies has made a point of shining a spotlight on Wrexham’s summer transfer activity in the run-up to the fixture. He admitted he was ‘surprised’ by the ‘levels they got to’ in splashing out on 13 new players.
“Wrexham I think are the biggest spenders in the league this season.
“People have said we have invested – and we have – but there are many, many, many teams that have invested a lot as well. So it’s not like we are in League One and we are the team that should be winning the league.
“You have got teams like Wrexham who I believe have spent £30 million – £40 million on transfers alone.
“That’s what they’ve done every season. They have gone up to the next level and upgraded each year but retained their style, their way and Phil Parkinson and they have been extremely successful in doing it.
“They have a good squad, good team, they know what they are doing. It’s a test for us but also we have a lot of confidence in what we can do.”
As for the incoming aerial threat, Davies noted: “They are quite direct. Lots of long balls to Kieffer Moore, lots of crosses. He’s the focal point for everything. They had it last year with (Ollie) Palmer I think it was.
“I can imagine it being a very similar game I don’t see them changing their style of play. We need to stand up to that, deal with that, and try and impose our game was much as possible.”
Davies added: “We have got a group of players I really believe in. We have got a way I really believe in. And it’s a game we can really look forward to, an opportunity for us.”
