Grimsby Town manager David Artell has urged his side to improve after another disappointing defeat yesterday afternoon.
The Mariners played fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers at Blundell Park, but were dealt another crushing defeat by Grant McCann’s side, who won 5-1 in Lincolnshire. As a result, they dropped to 22nd in the League Two table, six points ahead of Forest Green Rovers in 23rd.
Although the deficit is far from comfortable, it gives Grimsby some breathing room, and they have played less games than the two teams below them. However, that will mean nothing unless they can begin to accumulate points.
Artell is failed to win this year, their previous triumph coming against Salford City on December 29th. Their home form, however, is particularly concerning, as they have conceded five goals or more in three of their previous five games in front of their own fans.
Doncaster took a two-goal lead within 10 minutes Wednesday, but the hosts rallied with a Danny Rose penalty. The manager considered that his team failed to capitalise on their momentum following that. Following the game, the 43-year-old told Grimsby Live
“(Doncaster) scored a very good first goal and that happens. We then conceded a quick goal which knocked us. Then for the rest of that first half, we were comfortably the better side. Even their staff said the same thing.
“We got a goal and should have been 3-2 in front. You got in 2-1 and we are still in the game. Really in it. And that’s the first half. We go out and concede again after six minutes and that knocked the stuffing out of us. It’s not the first time that’s happened.
Not only a stunning goal, but a stunning build up. 😍#drfc
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) February 18, 2024
“We have to understand that teams are trying to knock the stuffing out of us. It doesn’t have to be fatal. That’s football and that’s life. People will try and knock you down. The question is, do you get back up? Some of our lads found that difficult after the third goal.”
Artell continued, warning his side that they need to think of those within the club when they step foot on the pitch:
“I can fully understand (the fans’) frustrations. I feel like I can just repeat what I said last week (after Stockport). We don’t work in training to perform like that and it is as simple as that.
“I’ve got to get more out of them and the players have got to get more out of themselves. I told them that if they don’t want to do it for themselves, which I’m sure they do, or they don’t want to do it for each other, or me, then do it for the kid in the academy who dreamt of being where they are.
“Do it for the staff, that if the oblivion happens, lose their jobs, because that is what is looming over the hill. We’ve got 15 games to go, a third of the season, and we’ve got to make sure we don’t perform like that ever again because it has become the norm at home.”
Grimsby travel to in-form Morecambe next weekend before a potential six-pointer at Forest Green early next month.
Writer’s perspective
After being promoted from the National League in 2022, Grimsby finished 11th in League Two last season. There was hope that he could go on to contend for a berth in the top seven, but the reverse has happened.
The Mariners will be hoping that their six-point lead will be enough to keep them alive, and much will depend on their encounter with Forest Green in a fortnight. Steve Cotterill, on the other hand, knows how to grind out results, and he may continue to make David Artell miserable.
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