BLUES boss Gareth Ainsworth said his men have a huge battle on their hands to retain their Football League status.

He wants his side to be up for the challenge of the final seven matches of the season, with Wanderers in a precarious position at the foot of the table.

Ainsworth insists Blues' fate is in their own hands, with his side sitting just two points above the dreaded cut-off mark.

And things could have been even worse for them last night, with a stoppage time equaliser for AFC Wimbledon against Northampton Town preventing the 23rd placed Cobblers from drawing level on the same number of points as Wanderers and Portsmouth.

Ainsworth told his players after last night's 1-0 defeat by Burton Albion: "I've said there's seven games to go, four and a half weeks - you're in a huge, huge battle now. That's the bottom line.

"There's three teams below us. We are not out of it, it's still in our hands and we need to start winning games if we're to stay in the league next year."