KEVIN Russell believes the frustration at having 10 points deducted is driving Wrexham on to league safety and cup glory, writes Paul Wheelock.
The Racecourse assistant boss admits the Football League's decision to punish the Dragons for going into administration still rankles with everyone at the club.
So Denis Smith's number two says avoiding the drop and winning next month's LDV Vans Trophy final would represent the perfect kiss-off to the doubters who said Wrexham were doomed following December's points docking.
He said: 'Without those 10 points we'd be in a comfortable position in the table and we wouldn't be talking about relegation. So if we can avoid it and win the LDV Vans Trophy then that would be a fantastic achievement for this club.
'They say the table doesn't lie but it definitely does in our case. Our form proves that, but we've been punished by the incompetence of others.
'But we've kept plugging away and that's what we'll continue to do.'
Confidence is high in the camp after crucial back-to-back victories over Oldham Athletic.
Last Tuesday's 1-0 second leg win in the LDV Vans Trophy Northern Area final meant Wrexham moved into the Millennium Stadium-staged showpiece 6-3 on aggregate.
The Latics left the Racecourse empty-handed again four days
later, as Hector Sam stepped off the bench to grab a last-gasp winner which moved the Dragons closer to the League One safety zone.
Wrexham, in 22nd, are now just three points off 20th-placed Milton Keynes Dons, and their survival bid continues on Saturday at play-off chasing Swindon Town.
Captain Darren Ferguson will be missing for the trip to the County Ground after he picked up his tenth booking of the season on Saturday - triggering a two-match ban.
Meanwhile, Mark Jones and Craig Morgan have been called up to the Wales Under 21 squad for next week's matches against Austria.
And with Carlos Edwards also away with Trinidad and Tobago, Wrexham look set to apply to the Football League to postpone their Easter period fixtures with Brentford and Port Vale, as rules stipulate a club can request a postponement if three or more members of the squad are unavailable.
