David Artell says the Mariners must stay grounded and hungry as they prepare for the final league game of the season away at Tranmere Rovers this weekend.

Town travel to Prenton Park with their Sky Bet League Two play-off place already secured, but the Head Coach insists the focus remains firmly on continued improvement, momentum and finishing the regular season strongly.

Here’s everything he had to say ahead of Saturday’s clash…

On life after securing the play-offs

Artell says there has been no dramatic shift in mood following confirmation of a top-seven finish.

“At the risk of sounding like a boring old fart, it’s just the same,” he said.

“We’re not getting carried away. We’ve achieved a very small milestone.

“It’s still all hands to the pump. Keep improving, keep getting better.

“Of course there’s less tension, but not to any great degree because the stress we put on ourselves is to improve and to win.”

On why the job is not done

While pleased to secure a play-off place, Artell believes it is only one step in a bigger process.

“We’re not improving just for the sake of improving,” he said.

“We’re improving to win.

“When you achieve a play-off place it shows you’re on the right track.

“It’s a fairly big milestone because it shows our improvement is being recognised in the league table.”

On maintaining standards this week

The Head Coach says preparation has continued exactly as normal.

“We had the Player of the Year awards on Sunday, the players had Monday off, then trained Tuesday and today,” he said.

“We just keep ticking away at what we think we need to improve at, both individually and as a team.

“Obviously there’s a bit of focus on Tranmere as well, then we go into the game on Saturday.”

On the mentality of the squad

Artell praised the resilience his players have shown in recent weeks.

“If anyone questions their mentality, I’d just show them last week,” he said.

“Missing a last-minute penalty against our play-off rivals, most people probably thought that was us done.

“Not this group of players.

“To then go and win three straight games shows outstanding mentality.”

On recent form

The Head Coach pointed to Town’s response in the closing weeks of the campaign.

“We went to Gillingham and won, then Cambridge who’d only lost one home game all season and won there,” he said.

“Then we followed it up by beating a team above us 4-0.

“That mentality doesn’t change this week.”

On the trip to Tranmere

Artell dismissed any suggestion that Saturday could be treated differently because Town’s league position is already secure.

“We want to win the game,” he said.

“A free hit is more of a spectator thing than a professional footballer thing.

“Professional sportsmen are ingrained to be competitive.

“It doesn’t even enter our psyche to think otherwise.”

On what is still at stake

With league placings still to be finalised, Artell says there is plenty to play for.

“If we can finish higher, that’s an aim,” he said.

“If we can get the second leg of the play-offs at home, that’s an aim.

“There’s always something to play for over and above pride, performance and improvement.”

On team selection

Artell says every selection decision will be made with winning the match in mind.

“We pick a team to win,” he said.

“Some of it is selection, some of it is niggles, some of it is form and some of it is the opposition.

“We certainly don’t pick it out of a hat.

“We want to win every game we play.”

On the Player of the Year awards

Artell was pleased to see several players recognised at Sunday night’s awards.

“Harvey Rodgers fully deserved it,” he said.

“There were a few who could have got it.

“The fact the second top goalscorer in the league wasn’t even in the top three shows how competitive it was.

“We want lots of players doing well because that reflects well on the team.”

On Maldini Kacurri and Jamie Walker

Artell also praised the other award winners.

“It’s fantastic for them,” he said.

“Maldini has settled in well and is heading in the right direction.

“Jamie’s two strikes in that game were well worthy of Goal of the Season.”

On the travelling support

More than 2,000 Mariners are expected to make the trip to Merseyside, and Artell says their backing is never taken for granted.

“I can’t understate how important it is when the lads walk out and see that away end,” he said.

“You can’t let that many people down who’ve travelled that far.

“It’s expensive, it takes commitment and we’ve got to repay them.

“That’s never lost on us.”

On the atmosphere around the club

Artell believes supporters can see the progress being made.

“I think people see what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“They can get behind something when it’s tangible.

“Everyone wants to be part of something successful.

“We haven’t achieved anything of significance yet, but I think we’re on the way.”

With momentum strong and another huge travelling support behind them, the Mariners head to Prenton Park aiming to finish the regular season with another positive result before attention turns to the play-offs.

You can watch David Artell’s full pre-match interview below:

UTM