IT was deflating rather than depressing but Wrexham must not let the Wembley defeat burst their bubble if they want their season to end in glory where everyone’s forever blowing bubbles.

West Ham United’s London Stadium is now the mecca for the four play-off hopefuls heading into this weekend’s National League semi-finals.

The Wembley trip - the club’s fourth in nine years - wasn’t exactly memorable for the 22,000 fans who headed to the famous old stadium, kitted out in red, white and green Wrexham shirts.

It was snow that put the skids on them first time round in 2013 while an M1 motorway crash meant that some fans endured a nightmare worrying whether they were going to make it in time for kick-off.

Wrexham fans gave their all in trying to inspire a side that failed to fire like they normally do.

That’s two defeats in what many would call ‘must-win’ games.

I wouldn’t say Bromley outplayed Wrexham at Wembley but they certainly out-thought them. And the least said about the defeat at Dagenham the better.

You’d like to think that it will be a case of third time lucky in what would complete a hat-trick of trips to the old smoke a week on Sunday.

Wrexham fans were taking last Sunday’s Wembley day-out as a free-hit, knowing that the eyes were on the big prize - promotion back to the Football League.

Boss Phil Parkinson virtually said the same in his post-match press conference but looking at the faces on some of the Wrexham players as they trudged around the tunnel area at Wembley, the defeat hit them hard.

In the build-up, the talk was that nobody wants to be a Wembley loser. Someone had to lose and, unfortunately, that was Wrexham last Sunday.

But fans weren’t too down-hearted after the game. Super Paul Mullin chants were ringing round the hotel I was in at 10 o’clock on Sunday night while for every low there’s a high as it proved on my taxi ride to Euston Station.

After pleasantries were exchanged, the conversation got round to: ‘I’ve been to Wrexham once and it wasn’t a pleasurable experience!’

The black cab driver was an Arsenal fan and left The Racecourse back in January 1992 a dejected man after Wrexham pulled off one of the biggest FA Cup shocks of all-time, beating The Gunners 2-1.

Mickey Thomas has never hit one better than that, I said. To which he replied: ‘Yeah. But it was never a free kick!”

The only down side for the rest of the Wrexham fans travelling back home on Monday was the train ride from Crewe to Chester.

Packed in like sardines, the 25-minute trip wasn’t the most pleasurable experience.

Surely with Wrexham now a city, politicians (instead of jumping on the Wrexham AFC bandwagon) could apply some pressure on Transport for Wales to stick an extra carriage on the services they offer for their friends in the north.

We can all put Wembley behind us now.

It’s live for tomorrow and back at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham fans will be out in full force again to back the boys.

Everyone knows the play-offs are a lottery; it’s anyone’s game as tomorrow’s opponents Grimsby Town and Tuesday’s other winners, Chesterfield proved this week.

The fact that Wrexham finished second - 11 points ahead of The Mariners - means absolutely nothing.

But having lost just once at home all season and with that magnificent home following fully behind them, there’s no reason why Wrexham can’t keep that dream of returning to the Football League alive.