BRYAN HUGHES understands supporters concerns about the faltering promotion challenge but the Wrexham boss won't let lightening strike twice.

Wrexham were well placed in the National League 12 months ago but manager Dean Keates left to take charge of Walsall and the Reds failed to secure a play-off spot following a dreadful run-in.

Hughes' side have dropped to third after suffering two successive defeats, the latest a 3-1 loss against Barrow on Tuesday, but Hughes is focussed on bouncing back against second bottom Maidstone tomorrow at The Racecourse.

"People are going to have reservations," said Hughes. "What happened last year will still be fresh in peoples minds.

"I am not going to let that happen.

"It is my job now to galvanise the team. I don't want people to feel sorry for themselves and get into a rut.

"It is about getting the players' spirits up now and getting them up for the game against Maidstone which I am sure they will be.

"I'm sure they will want to put right all the wrongs that happened against Barrow.

"We can't dwell on it, what happened on Tuesday has obviously hurt everyone and no-one seen it coming but it did. We have to react now."

Wrexham have dropped to third place, four points behind leaders Leyton Orient, but the chasing pack have also made up ground on the Reds.

But Hughes insists the title is still the aim with eight games remaining.

"The result has made it a bit more difficult for us but there are still a lot of games to play," said Hughes.

"I am looking for two points per game personally which is championship winning form, we put that right against Maidstone and we are back to 16 points in eight games under me.

"But it is easier said than done, these teams are going to come here like Barrow did and make it difficult for us. We have got to be ready for that."

But Hughes won't be taking Maidstone, 11 points adrift of safety, for granted and says there can be no room for complacency.

"Maidstone are going to be a different test," said Hughes. "They are not just going to come here and let us walk all over them.

"Our attitude and application has got to be right from the start and on Tuesday, it wasn't.

"It wasn't us defending that corner in the six yard box; it was a goal, it shouldn't happen - it was just too easy.

"We will make sure that we stamp that out and get ready for Maidstone."

"I have said all along it is not about what other teams do, it is about what we do," said Hughes.

"That's going to be imperative when we go into the game against Maidstone.

"It is about us and on Tuesday we didn't do it well enough.

"We didn't pass the ball well enough, our decision making at times wasn't good enough and all them factors add up and we get a frustrated performance.

"That's what happened against Barrow and we can't allow that to happen against Maidstone.

"We have got to be on song, we have got to play with an intensity.

"Whether that is running with or without the ball, going forward with a bit of quality, all them aspects have got to come into the game."