GRIMSBY v COUNTY (Today, KO 5.15)

NEWPORT County AFC captain David Pipe says the players owe it to the club’s long suffering fans to give it everything they’ve got in pursuit of promotion.

The Exiles head to fellow contenders Grimsby Town for the last match of the season today before the play-offs begin in midweek.

The two sides could meet again in the first leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday night with the return leg at Rodney Parade next Sunday but the skipper is not bothered if they face the Mariners or Wrexham.

“I watched the FA Trophy final when Wrexham beat Grimsby last month and both sides played some decent football but, without disrespecting either side, I think that if we play how we’re capable of playing we are a difficult team to beat,” said Pipe.

“We don’t have a preference who we play because we’re confident that we can beat anybody we face.

“Nobody looks forward to coming to Newport and I think playing the second leg at home will work to our advantage.

“Playing at Rodney Parade has been great for us and has made the whole club all round,” he added.

“And the work that will be done on the pitch in the summer will make it an even better place to play football.”

Pipe is focusing on giving something back to the amber army who have not seen their side play in the Football League since 1988.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of fans and it’s rewarding for us players to see that they are excited,” he said. “They’ve been great this season and we owe it to them to give it 100 per cent to win promotion.

“To see them smiling at the end of the season would be our biggest achievement.”

  • Tickets for Wednesday’s play-offs semi-final away leg will go on sale at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

The club will receive an allocation of 1,200 from Wrexham or 1,100 from Grimsby Town.