Wrexham are intent on finishing their Vanarama National League in style with three wins from their three remaining fixtures.
The Dragons have earned only five points from their last five matches, crashing 3-0 against Ebbsfleet in their latest match, but manager Andy Davies insists they still have belief in their quest for a play-offs finish.
“We can win all three of our remaining matches, I truly believe that because I believe in the players we have in our dressing room,” says Davies. “
“We have to transfer that belief to the pitch. Actions speak louder than words.”
Wrexham are in seventh place, the final play-off spot, but are only two points ahead of Dover Athletic, the Kent club who have a game in hand.
Ebbsfleet are ninth, five points adrift of the Reds with have two games in hand.
Wrexham needs wins and, if possible, a return of nine points from their remaining fixtures, against Dagenham and Redbridge and AFC Fylde plus Leyton Orient away.
“I can’t stress enough how vitally important Saturday is to us and the players know that,” says Davies. “They are all big games and they are getting even bigger because of where we find ourselves with teams closing that gap.
“There is virtually nothing in it now and Saturday is a huge game for us.”
“There are nine points up for grabs and nine points would take us, I feel, into the play-offs.
“It is going to be hard because of the rut we are in, but it is about going back to basics and making sure we are hard working and understand what we are doing like we have done for the majority of the season and we go back to it.
“We have characters and they need to dig deep now and put a performance in.”
Davies said ‘suicide’ football led to their defeat at Ebbsfleet when second half goals from Corey Whitely (50 mins), Danny Kedwell (83) and former Cardiff City teenager Luke Coulson (92) earned victory for the Kent club at their Stonebridge Road ground.
Wrexham twice had the ball in Ebbsfleet’s through Manny Smith and Scott Quigley, but both were ruled out.
“We weren’t good enough overall and errors have cost us.”Davies continued: “I think first half there is not too much in the game.
“Manny scores a goal in there and I don’t think there is too much wrong with it if I am honest. But going in at half-time there is not a lot in the game.
“Then second half a little bit of suicide football in a way. For the first two goals we are not set up properly and then individual decisions after that have cost us.
“For the third goal we are pushing and that is a sucker blow for us right at the end to concede another, but we were pushing to get something out of the game.”
Wrexham were without top scorer Chris Holroyd and midfield player Sam Wedgbury and both are rated doubtful for the match against Dagenham on Saturday.
“Chris is extremely doubtful,” said Davies. “He is carrying a knock on his toe.
“Sam was missing with a little bit of whiplash from the previous game and he couldn’t move his neck so there was no risk taken on him.”
Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore, McCoy, Winfield, Clark, Powell (Wilson 90+2), Drury, Kedwell, Shields (Weston 86), Coulson, Bush, Whitely (Wabo 74). Subs not used: Connors, Miles.
Wrexham: Dunn, Raven, M. Smith, Pearson, Jennings, Rutherford (Mackreth 67), Wright (Boden 82), Kelly, Deverdics, Ainge, Quigley. Subs not used: Dibble, Carrington, Franks.
Referee: A Quelch (Dorset)
Attendance: 1,376 (156 away)
Wrexham FC’s remaining Vanarama National League fixtures
April
Saturday 14 Wrexham v Dagenham and Redbridge (3pm)
Saturday 21 Leyton Orient v Wrexham (3pm)
Saturday 28 Wrexham v AFC Fylde (12.30pm)
National League Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | Macclesfield Town | 43 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 62 | 45 | 17 | 85 |
| 2. | Tranmere Rovers | 41 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 71 | 42 | 29 | 73 |
| 3. | Sutton United | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 62 | 49 | 13 | 72 |
| 4. | AFC Fylde | 43 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 81 | 54 | 27 | 71 |
| 5. | Aldershot Town | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 61 | 47 | 14 | 71 |
| 6. | Boreham Wood | 43 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 55 | 41 | 14 | 69 |
| 7. | Wrexham | 43 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 18 | 8 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 69 |
| 8. | Dover Athletic | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 55 | 37 | 18 | 67 |
| 9. | Ebbsfleet United | 41 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 56 | 46 | 10 | 64 |
| 10. | Bromley | 41 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 65 | 50 | 15 | 60 |
| 11. | Dagenham and Redbridge | 41 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 60 | 53 | 7 | 59 |
| 12. | Leyton Orient | 41 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 53 | 52 | 1 | 53 |
| 13. | Eastleigh | 42 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 61 | 66 | -5 | 53 |
| 14. | FC Halifax Town | 42 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 46 | 53 | -7 | 53 |
| 15. | Maidenhead United | 41 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 54 | 60 | -6 | 52 |
| 16. | Gateshead | 40 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 53 | 44 | 9 | 50 |
| 17. | Hartlepool United | 42 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 48 | 60 | -12 | 48 |
| 18. | Solihull Moors | 42 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 53 | -11 | 47 |
| 19. | Maidstone United | 43 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 48 | 63 | -15 | 47 |
| 20. | Woking | 43 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 22 | 52 | 71 | -19 | 45 |
| 21. | Barrow | 41 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 48 | 59 | -11 | 44 |
| 22. | Torquay United | 42 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 39 | 67 | -28 | 37 |
| 23. | Chester | 43 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 23 | 37 | 71 | -34 | 34 |
| 24. | Guiseley | 40 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 72 | -38 | 30 |