AFC Fylde manager Dave Challinor admits winning is the only option as his promotion-chasing side head into the final ten games of the season.

The Coasters dropped out of the National League play-off places after Dover Athletic, the only side that managed to host a game over a weekend of postponements, beat Leyton Orient to steal into seventh.

Fylde welcome high-flying Aldershot to Mill Farm on Saturday, however Challinor insists all ten remaining fixtures are of equal importance.

When asked if the clash against the Shots is a ‘must win’, Challinor commented: “If I was to look at it like that then every game until the end of the season is must win, or must not lose.

“We are going to have to win far more games than we lose until the end of the season if we are to secure our place in the play-offs.

“This is one of ten games that we have remaining and we are potentially going to have to win seven of those.

“It is about winning games at this point, draws are okay between winning runs but at this stage one point from a game isn’t really enough. 

“Realistically I don’t really see Aldershot as a direct rival to us. The way the table stands at the moment – although it can change very quickly – I think it’s between ourselves, Dover, Bromley and Ebbsfleet to battle it out for that final play-off spot.

“We could still close the gap on the clubs above but I think the teams in the other five play-off places are looking safe up there for now.

“I don’t feel like it’s about taking points off Aldershot or stopping them winning, it’s purely about picking up points, regardless of who we are playing. 

“The Dover game last weekend was a little different because they were in and around where we were. 

“We will set up to win. I think we have only set up to contain a team once this season and that was in the cup against Wigan. Aside from that we have gone out to win every game.

“We will look at where we think Aldershot’s weaknesses lie and maybe tweak things to take advantage of that, but ultimately we will play our game.”

Fylde must now top a ‘mini league’ of promotion hopefuls as the season draws to a thrilling conclusion but Challinor isn’t interested in how results elsewhere go. 

Challinor added: “We can’t worry about what other teams do because there are too many teams still competing. If we were to rely on other clubs dropping points every week then it just wouldn’t happen. 

“It isn’t between us and one other team, like I say there are probably four or five of us still aiming for that seventh spot. 

“If Dover were to win every game then there would be nothing we could do about it but I don’t expect them to do that. Likewise with the other teams around us. 

“We want to win seven games – it might not be enough but I think we would be very unlucky to miss out with that total. Teams around us play each other too so if someone offered me seven wins now then I would absolutely take it. 

“We have given ourselves a target and the sooner we get to that the sooner we can potentially aim higher.”