MARK CARRINGTON insists there's no time for "doom and gloom" with Wrexham still very much in promotion contention.

The Reds have been among the National League pacesetters all season but four defeats in the last five outings means Bryan Hughes' side are unlikely to win the title and still need to secure a play-off spot.

Wrexham are fourth in the standings with five games remaining and Carrington, the longest serving player in the squad, says there is still a good opportunity for the Reds to achieve their goal.

"As you have seen all season in this league, it is hit and miss," said Carrington.

"Everyone has a bad patch, everyone has a good patch, anyone can beat anyone on their day.

"It has not gone great over the last few weeks, we have not had the results we wanted but we are still in a great position.

"If you'd have given us this position at the start of the season, people would have snapped your hand off for it.

"There doesn't need to be any doom and gloom and negativity, we have still got a great chance of getting promoted this season."

Wrexham boast the best home record in the division and with three of the last five games at The Racecourse, Carrington wants to maintain the impressive form as well as pick up points from away matches at Barnet and Halifax.

"We need to start trying to pick up points on the road but at this stage of the season, we win them home games and we are firing on all cylinders," said Carrington.

"It is credit to the lads that teams have not wanted to come here.

"In the past, teams have come here and seen a big pitch, nice facilities, but this season I think teams have turned up and thought 'I don't want to play Wrexham here'.

"We need to make sure that teams are thinking that these last three home games and we pick up the points."

Braintree are the visitors to The Racecourse on Saturday and although the Iron were the first team to be relegated at the weekend, Carrington is not expecting an easy ride.

"No player downs tools because they are probably all out of contract," said Carrington. "In another way it can make them play even better so we have got to be aware of that.

"There could be a backlash from them but we will be ready."

Wrexham go into the game on the back of a 4-2 defeat at Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

The Fleet players didn't warm-up before the game due to a wages dispute but Wrexham found themselves 3-0 down at the break.

Goals from Stuart Beavon and Shaun Pearson gave hope of an unlikely comeback before Ebbsfleet scored a fourth, but Carrington, who made his comeback from injury at Stonebridge Road, believes the Reds can take heart from their second half display.

"Obviously the first half wasn't great, you don't need me to tell you that," added Carrington.

"But second half we changed formation and really put it on them.

"We had a lot of chances and if we had got that third goal, I think we would probably have gone on and won the game but the fourth goal on the break kills us as we are pushing forward.

"There are a lot of positives to come out of that second half.

"Over the season we have not really been a team who can come back from being a goal down or a couple of goals down so it has given us belief that we can do.

"The response and way we came back in the second half is what we have got to use moving forward."