Luca Havern: Every game is a cup final for AFC Telford

The Bucks – who are four points above the National League North drop zone – will head to Northamptonshire tomorrow to take on Brackley Town, who they were thrashed 6-0 by 17 days ago,

That humiliating loss was the first of three successive league defeats for Telford, and skipper Havern said: "It has been unacceptable over the last few weeks.

"With Brackley, we are looking to put things right from that defeat.

"Let's not beat around the bush, we know what we need to do now – we need results to stay up and every game is a cup final now."

Telford's current points tally is 34 from 34 games. They have scored 31 goals and conceded 46.

Their remaining games are against Brackley, Stalybridge Celtic, Worcester City, Stockport County, Nuneaton Town, Darlington and Harrogate Town – and six to nine points from those would probably be enough to survive.

"Two or three wins may be enough to do it but we are not going to be taking any chances," said Havern, who has made 32 league appearances at the heart of the defence this term.

"It is a case of everyone sticking together and getting across the line.

"Not just the players and the staff but the fans as well.

"It has been very difficult, especially over the last few weeks, but we all need to pull together.

"It has been a tough season. You look around the changing room and this team should not be where it is, but that's what has happened.

"We have a chance now, between now and the end of the season, to start putting things right and we are looking to make sure we do that."

He added: "We go into every game with a plan, and a point at Brackley would be great to take into the games that we have coming up.

"We will get over the line, we will stay up."

Fellow defender Dwayne Samuels admits the mood in the camp is not great at the moment following those three losses on the spin.

He insists he and his team-mates will pick themselves up as they aim to stay in the division.

He said: "It is difficult. A constant scene has been the manager having to pick the squad up and go again. To be completely honest, there is a negative mood after three straight defeats.

"We will dust ourselves down though and we are just trying to close out the season now.

"I am sorry for the fans and all involved for the way this season has panned out.

"After doing what we did last season, staying up how we did, we wanted to push on.

"I'm not saying we should have been play-offs, but top half would have been nice."

He added: "It just seems like it will be a fight to the finish line now.

"On a positive note, I think we have the players to do it. It's just about making sure that we do it now."