When Wrexham produced a dominant performance to see off eventual champions Stockport County earlier this month, many were tipping the Welsh side to achieve a league and cup double.
However, since May 8, the Dragons have been thoroughly outplayed by Dagenham & Redbridge on the final day of the campaign, leaving them to settle for second spot, and lost the FA Trophy final to Bromley.
Such has been the focus on promotion that the Wembley showpiece was played down to a certain degree, but Phil Parkinson cannot be happy with how his team have performed over their last 180 minutes.
Overall, they have won just four times in nine matches since the middle of April, hardly the form of promotion hopefuls, and there is no doubt that the stakes have been significantly raised ahead of this contest.
On a positive note, Wrexham have not suffered defeat at the Racecourse Ground since the end of November, with one of their victories since then being against Grimsby by a 1-0 scoreline.
Nevertheless, that will only add as further motivation for the Mariners, who will want to upset the applecart at the celebrity-owned club just like they did against higher-profile hosts Notts County earlier this week.
Paul Hurst’s team appeared to be heading out of the playoffs when they entered added-on time trailing by a 1-0 scoreline, but a last-gasp equaliser from Gavan Holohan was followed by a 119th-minute extra-time winner from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe.
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Having been on the receiving end of an unlikely comeback in their final league game at Eastleigh, it was an impressive show of character from Grimsby who will have no fear heading into this contest.
Despite having gone to extra time earlier this week, Grimsby will be relatively fresh with the majority of the players involved having been rested for the final game of the season.
Hurst will likely opt for the same side from the Notts County game, but Dieseruvwe’s dramatic goal, as well as his hat-trick versus Eastleigh, puts him in contention to replace Ryan Taylor in attack.
