The Silkmen have been in poor form, dropping to 12th in the National League table and crashing out of the FA Trophy after a 1-0 defeat at home to Torquay United last week.

They will look to get back to winning ways this weekend when they host Wrexham at the Moss Rose, and Askey is confident that they can turn things around.

“There is still a lot to play for and that’s what I said to the players,” he said.

“Despite everything that’s happened, we’re seven points off the play-offs, so if we manage to get a win on Saturday then it changes for them.

“We have got to realise there is plenty to fight for still, we’ve got a fight on our hands because at the moment we’re struggling to play but when we do get the ball down we play well.

“It’s difficult at the moment and it’s not nice, we have to pick ourselves up and keep battling because there’s nothing better than playing football.”

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Macclesfield fans have been frustrated by the run of results, with some supporters criticising the players for their performances.

Askey knows what his team are capable of when they play at their best though, and he has urged them to prove the doubters wrong.

“They’ve got to show plenty of spirit and enthusiasm and show people what they can do,” he said.

“When you don’t do well people start to criticise but when you do well those people are silent.

“We’ve had enough praise, you have to accept when you’re not getting praise. It’s tough at the moment but we can turn it around.”

Last Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Torquay was another game where Macclesfield conceded thanks to a late set-piece, something that has happened to them on several occasions this season.

Askey has been frustrated by the problem, but is continuing to put the players through their paces in training to try and avoid it happening again.

“The problem is people can’t defend the crosses, but we work on it and keep working on it and training,” he said.

“When you let people run free then they’re going to score eventually, there was two occasions where we let them go against Torquay and one they nearly scored and the other they did.

“There was one or two chances for us, but at the other end, we’re not defending well enough or attacking them well enough and it’s a big problem for us.

“From open play we’re fine but set pieces are our Achilles’ heel.”