BRYAN HUGHES believes Wrexham have made progress this season regardless of what happens in the last five games.

The promotion-chasing Reds go into today's home match against relegated Braintree on the back of four defeats in five outings, with Hughes' side dropping from top spot to fourth position.

Having already eclipsed last season's points tally, Wrexham are well placed to secure a play-off spot and Hughes, who became the club's third manager of the season in February, says the Reds are heading in the right direction.

"I wasn't getting carried away when we went top of the league," said Hughes.

"I think I said then that we were there to be caught because I didn't want expectation levels to rise, even though they will because you are top of the league.

"There was still a lot to play for and there was going to be twists and turns.

"At the moment we are on the downslide, four defeats in five games tells me we are in a rut and we have got to get ourselves out of that.

"Now we have got a five-game mini-league to cement our place in the play-offs and whatever position that is, that will be progression.

"We have made progress as a club from last year to where we are now, and we have still got games to play.

"We have got to try and be as positive as we can. I know it is hard to do that when we are in such a little rut as we are now but I have got to try and be positive to these players to try and turn it around, we have still got a lot to play for."