Chester simply have to find a way of beating Hartlepool United on Saturday says manager Marcus Bignot, whose side are now eight points adrift of safety.
A damaging defeat at home to relegation rivals Guiseley on Boxing Day has put the Blues National League status further in jeopardy.
Callum McFadzean and James Roberts put the visitors ahead after just 15 minutes in the crucial six-pointer and then Chester‘s Lathaniel Rowe-Turner was shown a straight red card ten minutes later.
It means Bignot’s side have now lost back-to-back games, conceding six goals in the process and scoring none.
Hartlepool visit the Swansway Chester Stadium this weekend with their own problems, having lost four of their last five league fixtures.
“Clearly everyone is disappointed,” said Bignot after their defeat to Guiseley.
“It’s the first time since we have arrived at the club that we’ve lost back-to-back matches.
“We’re showing signs of a fragile team at the moment. But when we had ten men we actually played better.
“Now it’s about us finding a way to restore belief as quickly as possible.
“We now need to find a way, any way, to win against Hartlepool United on Saturday. We need to get some confidence back into the group quickly.”