CALUM MCINTYRE has issued a rallying call ahead of Chester’s most crucial spell of the season.

The Blues have slipped out of the National League North play-off places ahead of a vital Easter weekend, starting with today’s trip to Buxton.

Blues’ boss McIntyre (pictured below) told Chester FC TV: “My mentality is simple now. Between now and the 20th of April there are five games, there are 15 points available and we have to fight for them.

“We have to perform. We have to win the games. We have to score goals. It’s very easy to say that and I understand that can be shot down quite quickly, because we haven’t done that.

“We’ve had 21 points available and I think we’ve managed to record five draws and two defeats in the last seven.

“You can see where we’re at. It’s not good enough. All the things that managers should say, no, let’s strip it down. Five games, have to fight for the points.”

While Chester have struggled for victories of late, McIntyre has asked for any criticism to be directed at himself and not the players.

“That’s how it works,” added McIntyre. “For me to give the players every opportunity to try and encourage them to have every bit of confidence they can have in front of goal, defending our own goal. At home, away, it needs to come my way.

“It needs to land in my lap and I need the supporters to do everything they can to support the players in those next five games and that battle to pick up as many points as we can.”

In today’s other action, leaders Tamworth host already-relegated Bishop’s Stortford and second-placed Scunthorpe are at home to King’s Lynn.

Other fixtures: Alfreton v Rushall; Banbury v Hereford; Blyth v Curzon Ashton; Boston v Peterborough Sports; Darlington v Chorley; Farsley v Southport; Gloucester v Brackley; Scarborough v Warrington; South Shields v Spennymoor.