JAMES MCCLEAN expected Wrexham to hit the ground running in League One because of the quality in the squad but he says there can be no let-up if the Reds want to remain among the frontrunners.

Phil Parkinson's back-to-back promotion winners go into tonight's clash against Stevenage at The Lamex Stadium sitting second in the table with 17 points from the opening eight games.

Wrexham, who drew 0-0 at Leyton Orient on Saturday, are only two points behind Birmingham City who took over as leaders after beating Peterborough 3-2.

It has been a superb start to the season at The Racecourse but McClean says the Reds can't afford to take their foot off the gas due to the quality of the opposition in the third tier.

"Given what we have got in the dressing room, I expected us to definitely compete," said the former Republic of Ireland international.

"We have got a lot of quality so I am not surprised by the start we have had but it is only a start.

"There is a lot of football to be played and a lot of good teams in this league so we have to be bang at it every game and we are under no illusions that is what we have to do.

"It's about momentum so you want to keep getting results. Get points on the board and try to be up there as long as possible.

"We will just keep plugging away. It is an old cliche but it is one game at a time."

Although they weren't at their best against Orient, Wrexham finished strongly and McClean wants the Reds to pick up where they left off at Stevenage.

"I don't think you can turn your nose up at a point and a clean sheet away from home," said McClean.

"We were disappointed with our first half performance. We allowed them too much time on the ball.

"We didn't really get control of the game but we were a lot more like ourselves in the second half. It was a lot better and we could have won the game.

"We have got to take that second half performance into the start of the game on Tuesday.

"It is a quick turnaround but I love that personally. The games come thick and fast and we will look forward to it."

Wrexham kept their fifth clean sheet in eight outings against Orient and wing-back McClean is happy with that statistic.

"We have got a good structure about us," added the 35-year-old, who has enjoyed an illustrious career playing for the likes of Sunderland, Wigan, West Brom and Stoke City.

"We have got a lot of honest lads that like defending and we work off a well-organised structure put together by the manager.

"If you can't win the game, certainly don't lose the game and our defensive work deserves a lot of credit this season."