STAGS skipper Jake Buxton accepted that Stags' chances of survival are now slim but refused to give up the fight.
Buxton returned from suspension today to play a real captain's role with a brave and battling display at the back.
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But, after seeing Rotherham escape with all three points due to a freak goal from over 40 yards, he said: "We are not in our situation just because what has happened today. It is down to what has happened over the course of the season.
"We have a slim hope to cling to with Chester and we have still got to believe, though I am not stupid. It is a slim chance.
"The lads know it is a tough ask. Chester play Stockport and Macclesfield and Stockport are certain of the Play-offs so may play kids while Macclesfield haven't really got anything to play for.
"We have just got to keep going and see what happens.
"We have just not been good enough. But you have got to realise that, having been so far adrift, we have done wonders to put ourselves in a position that we could have stayed up with four or six points from our last two games.
"But we have stumbled at the last hurdle and it was gutting to lose to a goal like that. It all turned sour at the end and things have gone off which is upsetting.
"If things now don't go our way and we go down then we have to try to hold onto our best players and bounce back as soon as we can."
