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Relegation and loss of our proud Football League status crept closer with this demoralising defeat away at table-topping MK Dons. Just three months ago we took on Paul Ince’s side at the Racecourse and beat them, deservedly. Since then though Wrexham have wasted just about every chance they had of survival.

With Simon Spender and Wes Baynes injured, Gareth Evans played at right-wing-back while Drewe Broughton was ineligible to face his parent club. Many Wrexham fans not unreasonably assumed that Michael Proctor would get a chance to start in his place and offer us a goal threat. Brian Little decided to go with youthful duo Marc Williams and Stuart Nicholson instead.

Wrexham lined-up to contain the Dons in the early stages but those plans were shredded within the first ten minutes. After only two minutes Hope needlessly gave away a silly free-kick. Danny Swailes nipped in behind the Wrexham defence to open the scoring.

In the 10th minute Jemal Johnson raced down the left wing to pull back a good cross which was clinically despatched by Aaron Wilbraham. Many might have expected the franchise club to go on and grab six or seven with our confidence in tatters. It didn’t happen and we got into the game.

Chances fell to Nicholson but he just couldn’t provide a finishing touch. Marc Williams built on the attacking enterprise he showed on Saturday. However, real opportunities were scarce despite the Dons failing to build on their good start.

No changes were made at half-time but we started positively. We were handed a lifeline quarter of an hour into the second period when Neil Roberts was brought down in the area by Carl Regan. The former Chester man should have received a card for the challenge. Roberts confidently converted the spot-kick himself.

The Dons stepped up a gear and began to test Ward through Mark Wright and Jemal Johnson. Nicholson was replaced with Matt Done, but just minutes after that substitution the Dons put the game beyond doubt when Sean O’Hanlon scored with a header.

Finally Michael Proctor was introduced for Danny Williams but it was too little too late again. Wrexham kept going but the scoreline was made even worse when in the final minute Wilbraham grabbed his second of the night, rounding Ward to slot home.

We could still conceivably stay up. We make our first trip to the New Meadow to play old foes Shrewsbury Town, also on the slide, on Sunday. We had a good recent record at the old Gay Meadow and if we can take points from our game at home to Notts County a week on Saturday, we still have a chance. They are precariously perched just above the relegation zone and would be dragged right into the mire if we were to beat them.

Unfortunately we’ve proved time and time again in the last few months that when it comes to crunch games, we don’t have the quality, belief or tactical acumen necessary to come out on top in such fixtures. It’s difficult to see us winning either of our next couple of games when everyone in and around the club, including most supporters, accept that we’re down. It’s worse than it was at the end of last season, and there’s no excuse for it.

Brian Little, and certain players, might just want to take these last few games of a dismal season however, to prove to us why they should still be here for the next one. A bit of pride wouldn’t go amiss either.

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Wrexham edged closer to relegation from the Football League with this dull draw at home to Macclesfield. There was a resigned atmosphere at the Racecourse following Tuesday’s defeat at Mansfield, and the players did little to lift spirits during the game.

Danny Williams and Marc Williams were given starts in midfield alongside Neil Roberts.

Perplexingly Brian Little decided to persist with Richard Hope (and as captain too!) while leaving top-scorer Michael Proctor on the bench again. He went with Llewellyn and Broughton up front instead, a partnership that hardly promised goals. Steve Evans made a welcome return to defence.

Early on we promised to put ‘Macc’ under pressure, Spender providing a good outlet on the right. Llewellyn and Broughton both went close with chances but failed to hit the target. Macclesfield only seemed interested in a draw which would further their own survival hopes, as their time-wasting tactics from an early stage reflected.

Our set-pieces offered promise, the most notable being a free-kick blasted by Danny Williams which their keeper tipped just over the bar. The first-half ended 0-0 without either side coming too close to a goal.

In the opening period of the second-half ‘Macc’ took the lead. A poor clearance from Evans fell straight to Jamie Tolley who fired home to put the away side 1-0 up. Soon after, Hope was chasing back with yards on Francis Green. Green managed to sprint past him to the ball though, and cross for Tolley. His effort was poor and we escaped punishment for terrible defending.

One of the positives from the game was the performance of Marc Williams in midfield, his creativity and work-rate providing us with decent moves and opportunities. When he was able to get into the box you also felt he was likelier to score than anyone else.

Gavin Ward was forced into a number of good saves following more Macclesfield pressure, the most impressive from a Danny Thomas attempt. With just over 20 minutes to go, to salvage something from the game, Little introduced Proctor for Hope. He also replaced Danny Williams with Stuart Nicholson.

Unfortunately just minutes later Player of the Season candidate Simon Spender was stretchered off with what looked like damage to his ankle. Sam Aiston replaced him with Llewellyn moving to right back where his tackling risked a red card. Aiston livened things up, running with the ball and winning set-pieces. His introduction coincided with more urgency as the clock ticked down.

With just over 10 minutes to go Steve Evans equalised with a looping header after he’d stayed forward to help out in attack. The goal gave us momentum as Macclesfield sat back soaking up our attacks. With just minutes to go Bolland’s header from a free-kick was just turned away by ‘Macc’ goalkeeper Jonny Brain.

Into the five minutes of stoppage time awarded Macclesfield wound down the clock by making a number of separate substitutions. Terry Dunfield also went down with an ‘injury’, taking his time to receive treatment and frustrating the majority of the Racecourse.

Eventually the game finished, a generally disappointing performance and another underwhelming result from a game we could and should have won. Our survival hopes have faded fast in the last six weeks. Undeniably over the season we’ve been the poorest side in the division but have been guilty of missing numerous opportunities in the past few months to change that.

Brian Little has made some strange decisions, selections and choice of approaches recently that have left some scratching their heads, and others asking whether he is the right man to take us forward next season.

Mathematically we’ve still got our Football League status to play for and we travel to title contenders MK Dons on Tuesday. We beat them at the Racecourse last January, but given how things have panned out recently you can’t really see the same happening again…

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