NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan has called on his injury-hit side to show pride and passion in Grimsby to avoid their season ending with a whimper.

The Exiles slim League Two play-off hopes were ended on Monday when beaten 4-0 by seventh-placed Crawley at Rodney Parade.

With five games to go, they are now playing for pride and placings with the aim of getting three more points to beat last season’s tally of 57.

County are 13th in the table and travel to face a Grimsby side who are at risk of dropping out of the Football League.

The Mariners are looking nervously over their shoulders at Sutton, Colchester and Forest Green, meaning that Coughlan’s side will need to be on their game at Blundell Park.

South Wales Argus: PRESSURE: County striker Seb Palmer-Houlden chases down the Grimsby defence at Rodney ParadePRESSURE: County striker Seb Palmer-Houlden chases down the Grimsby defence at Rodney Parade (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“You’ve got five games left. Roll your sleeves up and get through it, don’t use injuries as an excuse and give a good account of yourself,” said the manager.

“All people will remember is how you finish. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish in every race.

“I want us to finish strongly, not with a whimper. To play with pride and passion, the same way that they have represented this club all season.

“They have to understand the importance of these last five games individually and collectively and where it puts us, to take that on into next season.”

County have lost three games on the spin for the first time under Coughlan, who was appointed in October 2022.

They produced flat performances at Barrow and Colchester then were humbled 4-0 by play-off hopefuls Crawley in Newport.

The Exiles have a defensive injury crisis with full-backs Shane McLoughlin and Adam Lewis on the sidelines along with centre-backs Ryan Delaney, Scot Bennett, James Clarke and Declan Drysdale.

“You want them to bounce back. We are hurting and in a spot [because of injuries] that we don’t want to be in,” said Coughlan.

“We are looking to give a good account of ourselves and I am looking forward to seeing one or two of the young lads perform to see if they can stay with us for the next couple of seasons.

“One thing this group does is that they bounce back, and I don’t want anybody wallowing. Go and finish the season strongly by giving your all.”

The teams drew 1-1 when they met at Rodney Parade in December with Omar Bogle’s late opener quickly cancelled out by Danny Rose.

County face a run of three home games on the spin after Grimsby with Accrington on Tuesday followed by Tranmere and Salford. They finish the campaign at Bradford on April 27.