Groves Happy With a Point

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 14/01/2002

PAUL GROVES is desperately seeking a new striker on loan to help boost the Mariners' woeful scoring record. Although unbeaten in his first four games in charge, Grimsby have drawn the last three games 0-0 under their new player-manger - addressing the problems at that end of the pitch at least.

"It's important to keep the run going and it would be nice to convert one or two chances and see where we went from there," said Groves, whose team face an FA Cup reply at Third Division York tomorrow which they must score in (at least on penalties) if they are to progress to a 4th Round home tie against Fulham or Wycombe.

"It would be nice to get a goal or two but I don't think we should get hung up on that. There's been a shortage of goals throughout the season and we're hoping we can create one or two more opportunities."

The next two league games are both relegation "six pointer" battles, which Town desperately need something from to avoid the spectre of relegation hanging over the club until April. "It's an important time for us and at least we're going into it with some good performances and in the middle of a nice little run" said Groves. "We'll continue to try and get ideas into people's heads about how to create a little bit more."

Groves was satisfied to take a point from his former side on Saturday, when the Baggies were restricted to only a handful of scoring opportunities by the new mean Grimsby defensive unit. "I would have taken a point before the game. They're a top six side and they'll be in and around the play-offs. We had one or two better chances in the first half but it was fairly even overall." said the Derby-born manager.

We haven't had a great deal of time to bed anything down. We're very pleased with the amount of work Danny Coyne had to do".