CLUB captain Neil Roberts offered no excuses for Wrexham’s dire season, but said it was up to them now to pull it around and avoid the Football League trapdoor.

The Dragons are out of the bottom two relegation places in League Two by the narrowest of margins of just a single strike in the goal difference column.

And despite having a game in hand, Roberts was adamant they still had a lot more work ahead of them.

Roberts, who was made club captain by manager Denis Smith at the start of the campaign, said: “We had such high expectations at the start of the season and we expected really to be at the very least pushing for the play-offs.

“We made a great start to the season which only added to our expectations and we were really confident of having a good campaign.

“But it hasn’t worked out that way and we as players have to take the blame. The performances haven’t been good enough and we are in this position with no one else to blame but ourselves.”

Wrexham’s physio Mel Pejic can rightly claim to be one of the busiest in the Football League, with the Dragons casualty list stretching as long as Offa’s Dyke, but Roberts was brutally honest and added: “That’s no excuse and you can’t use injuries as a reason why we have struggled.

“I would never use injuries as an excuse, because it is part and parcel of football. You are always going to get players missing because of injuries or even suspensions, but it is how you deal with it, and simply we haven’t.

“I don’t think we had the strength in depth, maybe, to cope with as many injuries as we have had – but even still, that’s no excuse.”

Roberts himself has been in and out of the treatment room throughout what he described as a “horrible season”. After going down with an ankle injury early on against Swindon in September, he returned against MK Dons, where he again suffered a repeat of the injury an was forced to sit out.

He returned to action in February, but after picking up a calf strain in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Mansfield Town, now looks set for another enforced break.

He said: “I felt my calf a bit in the warm up, but thought I’d be alright to carry on, but then early in the game it got worse and I had to come off.

“I’m hoping to be back as soon as possible. I’ve been on the treatment table all week and tomorrow I’m going to do some running and see if it holds up. I want to be back playing as soon as possible, but we will just have to see.

“It’s been a horrible season for me this year on a personal note. Coming back and being made club captain was such a huge honour, because Wrexham is my home town club, but it’s just been one of them season’s where everything seems to go against you.”

But even despite Wrexham’s lowly league position, Roberts was confident they had the class in the side to be able to pull away.

“The lads are all really up for it,” he added. “Everyone is in good spirit and knows exactly what we have to do to get up the table.

“Brian Carey has come in and he is not letting anyone mope around and we have got some great characters in the club, such as Brian and Joey Jones.

“But Brian, who I believe is an excellent manager and will see us clear, has brought in a few new experienced players and that’s what you need in this position.”

Meanwhile, Paul Ince believes the Easter weekend provides a “massive” opportunity for the club to secure their Football League status.

The Silkmen face fellow strugglers Wrexham and Boston in the space of three days, having had a fortnight without a game due to Bristol Rovers reaching the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

And Ince was pleased to see the other teams battling for survival did not take advantage of Macclesfield’s lack of action.

He said: The next two games really decide whether we’re going to be out of trouble before the end of the season or if it will go to the wire.”