Stags keeper Alan Marriott ‘desperate’ to taste promotion

Looking for a 13th straight win, Stags can all but end Wrexham’s own title hopes tonight and Marriott said: “I’ve never wanted anything more than promotion. I am desperate to do it.

“I got my chance to play against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round this season, which I was able to tick off my career list. But promotion is something I crave.

“I have never stared at a table as much, even though I know it’s not going to change. You try to work out the different permutations and I know there will be a hell of a lot of twists and turns.

“Someone said on the messageboard that the title is ours to throw away. But you can’t afford to be naïve and jump the gun. Kidderminster are on a fantastic run and our games in hand are against very good teams.

“A lot of people thought Luton would do us a favour last weekend, but Kidderminster produced a fantastic win.”

He added: “I have a terrible play-off record. It would be amazing to go up. I am not about money, none of the lads are money-orientated. They are driven by the desire to get promoted.

“I can picture us celebrating on an open-topped bus in town. That would be a fantastic experience and live long in the memory.

“To be fair I’ve not had a great deal to do recently, apart from the Grimsby game. The lads have been a good, solid unit in front of me.

“The mark of a good keeper is having nothing to do for 88 minutes and then having a save to make. You can be a hero and contribute something then.”

Marriott knows the game at the Racecourse Ground will be a massive hurdle tonight and said: “Everyone will want to stop our run and spoil our party. It is a cliché, but we just have to take it a game at a time.

“This is probably a game Wrexham need to win. They will come out all guns blazing and we expect nothing less.”