FRUSTRATED Wrexham boss Dean Keates says his side are firmly in a relegation scrap after Saturday's defeat at Sutton United.
The Red Dragons lost 1-0 thanks to Martin Riley's early own goal and the result leaves the club in 15th-place in the National League table.
The north Wales outfit have lost their last three league games and haven't scored in any of them as goals continue to be a problem.
Keates, who replaced Gary Mills in the Racecourse hotseat in October, says his side's league position is unacceptable and Saturday's defeat has left them eight points clear of the bottom four.
“Nobody wants to be in a dog fight, but we aren't going to be dragged into it, we are already in it,” Keates told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
“The players need to realise it. It is now more about character than ability. The situation we are in, we are looking over our shoulder.
“This football club shouldn't be where it is in the league and we are all responsible for it. We need players to roll their sleeves up.”
