SHAUN PEARSON believes maintaining the impressive home form is key to Wrexham's chances of winning the National League title.

The second placed Reds are one point behind leaders Leyton Orient, who also have a game in hand, after the O's clinched a 1-0 victory in Saturday's top of the table clash at Brisbane Road.

Wrexham have nine games remaining with five at The Racecourse, starting with tonight's clash with Barrow.

Bryan Hughes' side have only lost twice at home this season and Pearson wants to keep that record in tact in the race for automatic promotion.

"When you lose you definitely want a game to come around quick because you feel like you want to put it right," said Pearson.

"We look forward to getting back to The Racecourse, our record is very good there.

"Our home form is going to be big for us between now and the end of the season and if we can keep that up for the rest of the season, we will no doubt still have a chance of challenging for top spot."

Wrexham are also at home on Saturday against lowly Maidstone United and Pearson added: "Ultimately we have to try and get two wins this week.

"First and foremost Barrow, fingers crossed we can get three points and things look brighter again."

Pearson insists the title race is still wide open with a number of teams in contention for top spot as well as Wrexham and Orient.

"There's Solihull, Fylde and Salford so there are loads of other teams in the mix," said Pearson.

"There is a long way to go. We know there are some tough games and Orient have obviously got the FA Trophy as well.

"It would have been nice if we had got a result but it is one of them things.

"We will keep going and we just have to bounce back against Barrow, that is the big thing now.

"All we have to concentrate on now is getting a win and hopefully you find yourselves back in the mix."

Marvin Ekpiteta's 72nd minute deflected goal enabled Orient to replace Wrexham as leaders.

Although frustrated to lose, Pearson insists the Reds are determined to get the promotion challenge back on track.

"We are disappointed with the manner of it because we feel like it wasn't deserved," said Pearson.

"But that's football, that's the way it goes.

"I think we have got more about us as a group this year that we won't let it affect us too much and we will try and bounce back against Barrow, get a win and get ourselves back in the mix."