GRAHAM BARROW wants his players to do their talking on the pitch as Wrexham aim to end their poor run of form.

Wrexham go into Saturday’s game against high-flying AFC Fylde on the back of four successive defeats, although the fourth placed Reds are only four points behind leaders Leyton Orient.

Barrow revealed that the players have held a meeting, eager to ensure there is no repeat of last season’s failed promotion challenge when Wrexham went from challenging for the title to play-off also rans.

Talking is all well and good, but Barrow knows his players need to deliver the goods on the field.

“We have worked a lot and talked a lot,” said Barrow.

“The players actually had, I wouldn’t say a meeting amongst themselves, but I think the players from last year were getting concerned that the losing run was going to drag on like when it went downhill.

“I think it is good for people to hear that they are concerned and that they want to address the situation. But there is only one way to do that and that is on the football pitch.”

Barrow is no stranger to the Fylde management team, having signed Coasters boss Dave Challinor while in charge of Bury and also played alongside his assistant, Colin Woodthorpe.

He also had a spell scouting for ambitious Fylde before arriving at Wrexham last summer and the Reds’ boss praised the duo.

“They are both good lads, they were good to me,” said Barrow.

“When I left Wigan I had been back there for eight years and you get attached to a place.

“It was a real strange time, like losing your girlfriend; I’d played there and managed them, it was a real heart-wrenching thing.

“I didn’t know where I was going to go next. I’d spoken to a few people but they were basically the first ones to invite me in.

“I went and watched them training, then they talked to me about doing something to help them out.

“It was a bit like what happened here, once I started to do it I stayed with it.

“I think they were about seventh from bottom but had a really good run and got to the play-offs.

“Good people and Dave has got a really good future in front of him.”

But there will be no old pals act on Saturday with Barrow focused on picking up a first win of 2019.

“Fylde have done remarkably well,” said Barrow. “The manager, the owner, the team have been a major threat to all the big guns in this league over the last two years.

“I expect a tough game but we will probably have half the crowd.

“I am concentrating on us. We do look at the opposition obviously but we have got a really good squad of players and now we have to get the best out of them.”

Barrow is boosted by the news that Ben Tollitt has extended his loan spell at Wrexham by another month.

The winger has made six substitute appearances since joining the Reds from Tranmere Rovers, scoring on his debut in the 5-1 thrashing of Salford City on Boxing Day.

Barrow was keen to keep Tollitt and the new agreement keeps the 24-year-old at the Racecourse until February 16 and includes the league fixture at Havant & Waterlooville that day. Tollitt will also be available at Fylde.