RYAN Valentine says boss Denis Smith is not to blame for Wrexham's horror run.
The pressure is piling on Smith after his side slipped to their sixth League Two defeat in seven matches on Saturday.
Yet Valentine insists it is the players who must carry the can.
The Dragons defender said: 'If anyone should be criticised it's the play-ers because we are the ones who are losing the games.
'He was the one who signed me so I want to do my best for him, as do all the lads. We are all behind him and we want to get out of the run we're on.'
It has been a rollercoaster ride for Valentine since moving to his hometown club in the summer.
The 24-year-old from Chirk was one of the Reds' best players in their six-match unbeaten start to the season - a run that had fans dreaming of a promotion push.
Since then Smith's men have limped from one disaster to the next. Saturday's 3-0 drubbing at Mansfield left them three points above the relegation places.
Valentine admits they need to get their campaign back on track.
He said: 'Confidence is a big part of the game and at the moment we're lacking in it. We started well on Saturday but that will get you nowhere if you give away silly goals like we did. No one player is to blame - it's all 11 of us.
'We are trying hard to put it right and we've had double training sessions to sort it out.
'We set expectations high with how we started, so I can understand it if the fans wanted a go
at us. We've got to stick together and try and turn it around.'
Valentine believes they can do just that when Bristol Rovers visit on Saturday (3pm).
Although Rovers - four points and six places above Wrexham in 14th - have shown signs of improvement, they have one of the poorest away records in the division.
Valentine - a regular in John Toshack's Wales squads this season - said: 'We've got to keep it tight at the back and take our chances when they come. It doesn't matter if it hits a knee and goes in or whether it's an own goal - we just need a win.'
Smith wants to boost his squad with loan signings and is confident he will have at least one on board for Saturday.
