SHAUN PEARSON pulled no punches following Wrexham's latest defeat and says the Reds have got to somehow win 10 games during the second half of the season to avoid relegation.

Tuesday's 1-0 defeat against fellow strugglers AFC Fylde leaves third from bottom Wrexham two points adrift of National League safety, and six behind 19th placed Aldershot.

Just 20 points have been taken from the first 22 games and Wrexham's vital trip to bottom of the table Ebbsfleet United on Saturday marks the half-way mark in the campaign.

A total of 50 points is regarded as good enough for survival and Pearson says that is the only aim between now and the end of the season.

"We are 22 games in now, not five games," said Pearson. "That is our season now, we are in a relegation battle.

"It is no good thinking you are too good or get on a run and we are going to close down the play-offs. We have got to forget about all that.

"We are two points from safety and six from the next one above that, and in the second half of the season we have got to get 10-plus wins.

"That gets you to 50 points and generally that is the safety mark.

"That has to be our target, simple as that. We have got to look to find 50, 51, 52, 53 points, whatever will get us safe.

"Ten wins will get us that so that is what we have got to look at."

The clash against Fylde, which attracted a sub-3,000 attendance at The Racecourse, was billed as a massive game and Pearson admits Saturday's encounter at Stonebridge Road is now even bigger as Wrexham, just one point ahead of Ebbsfleet, target a first away victory of the campaign.

"It was a massive game and in turn, every one you lose makes the next one even bigger," said Pearson.

"Saturday is absolutely huge for us.

"We have not won away for such a long time, we have got two long trips in quick succession and we need to find a win from somewhere.

"People have got to grow a pair now.

"That is not just tackling or whatever, it is being brave on the ball and making the right decisions."

Pearson, who won promotion from the National League with previous club Grimsby and has been the mainstay of Wrexham's defence since joining in the summer of 2017, has urged his team-mates to be "brave" in the battle against relegation.

"I have never been in this position before so I have not got a great deal experience of it but it is similar to when you hit a bad run when you are doing well," said Pearson.

"You just need to keep digging in and be as brave as possible on the pitch."

Fylde midfielder Danny Philliskirk's 30th minute strike proved to be the difference between the sides and Pearson admits Wrexham did not create enough good scoring chances to get something out of the game.

"I thought we were the better team to start with first half and then they scored," added Pearson.

"That set-up us back and we didn't really react too well for 10 minutes but towards the end of the first half we got on top.

"Second half we dominated the game but never created any real opportunities.

"Maybe not recently but for a long period this season that has been the story a lot.

"We have huffed and puffed without any real quality."