Grimsby head coach David Artell called on his players to get victory on the final day of the season to secure a Sky Bet League Two play-off place.
The Mariners fell out of the top seven after a 0-0 draw against MK Dons, in which both sides created chances but could not make the breakthrough.
Victory for Salford means Grimsby sit outside the play-offs on goal difference but victory over AFC Wimbledon on the final day would confirm their place in the top seven, and Artell said focus would now turn to getting that victory.
“I thought it was a really good point and really good performance,” Artell said. “I thought in the end, we probably should’ve won it – we hit the post and had the best chance of the whole game right at the end.
“Bigger picture and perspective – if you’d have said to us, nevermind last August, five-10 games ago that if you win your last game of the season, you’ll be in the play-offs, I think we’d all have taken that and that’s what’s in front of us now.
“We’ve got a big opportunity in front of our fans and hopefully we’ll give a right good account of ourselves like we did today.
“If you look at all the teams in the play-offs, including Salford, they’ve all got huge budgets and expect to be there. Nobody expects us to be there and the pressure’s not on us in that sense.
“I think we’re going about our business and if we get in, great, and if we don’t, unfortunate but it’s still been an outstanding season. But we obviously want to get in.”
Paul Warne, who remains unbeaten in his brief time as MK Dons head coach, felt content his team were taking steps in the right direction.
“It was a step in the right direction,” he said. “I thought we were a lot better in the final third today – we had more shots, attempts on goal and looked more of a threat on set-pieces. I was pleased with that and we defended really well.
“It just felt like one goal would then explode the game as in the other team would go for it a bit more. We were going for it and did everything we could.”
Warne also spoke highly of Dean Lewington, who played his final home game for the club after announcing his retirement last month.
He said, “Lewie was excellent. Everyone’s knows what a good player he’s been and everyone has been speaking highly of him and so they should – he can pick a pass, he’s a real competitor and I asked the lads to leave everything out there for him, and I think the lads did. So in that respect, I’m really proud of the group.”
