Grimsby Town

Grimsby v Notts County
Grimsby have on-loan Andy Butler available after missing the Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory against Lincoln. Boss Graham Rodger must decide whether to recall Butler or keep faith with Justin Whittle, while Tony Thorpe is also pushing for a return. Notts County have a doubt over Austin McCann, who has a hamstring injury and Liam Needham may deputise again. Tommy Hannigan is expected to be sidelined again because he lacks match fitness after a back injury.

Grimsby 0-2 Notts County
Veteran striker Jason Lee's late goal sealed the points for Notts County and pushed Grimsby towards the drop zone. Nick Fenton could have put the home side ahead in the first minute but headed Ciaran Toner's corner over. Junior Mendes opened the scoring for Notts County just before the hour mark, sweeping home David Pipe's cross from the right wing. Lee then popped up with a eight-yard header from Ian Ross' free-kick in the 83rd minute. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grimsby: Barnes, Croft, Fenton, Butler, Newey (McDermott 86), Bore, Bolland (Harkins 67), Boshell, Toner, Jones, Thorpe (Hegarty 62). Subs Not Used: Murray, North. Booked: Jones, Fenton. Notts County: Pilkington, Gleeson (Hunt 78), Edwards, White, McCann, Pipe, Somner, Ross, Parkinson (Martin 73), Mendes, Lee (Dudfield 90). Subs Not Used: Deeney, N'Toya. Goals: Mendes 60, Lee 83. Att: 4,029. Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Peterborough v Grimsby
Peterborough boss Keith Alexander boasts an almost full-strength squad for the visit of Grimsby. Captain Dean Holden and Lloyd Opara are both set to make full returns after recovering from hamstring problems. Grimsby goalkeeper Phil Barnes (Achilles), Paul Bolland (knee), Peter Beagrie (back) and Justin Whittle (groin) are doubtful. Tom Newey is expected to be passed fit after a knee injury while Ricky Ravenhill returns from suspension.

Peterborough 2-2 Grimsby
Peterborough twice came from behind to hold 10-man Grimsby at London Road. Grimsby - who had Gary Jones sent off for a lunge on Peter Gain - went ahead on 52 minutes when Ciaran Toner hit a shot through a crowd of players. Ex-Mariner Ben Futcher equalised with a header from a corner to equalise before an error by Guy Branston let in Peter Bore to restore Grimsby's lead. Posh flung everything into attack and Trevor Benjamin turned and levelled the scores with his eighth of the season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peterborough: Tyler, Holden, Branston, Futcher, Arber (Opara 58), Newton, Butcher, Gain (Huke 64), Day, Crow, Benjamin. Subs Not Used: Stirling, Richards, Ghaichem. Booked: Newton, Holden. Goals: Futcher 61, Benjamin 79. Grimsby: Barnes, Croft, Butler, Fenton, Newey (Whittle 90), James, Boshell, Ravenhill, Toner, Bore, Jones. Subs Not Used: McDermott, Harkins, Rankin, Thorpe. Sent Off: Jones (37). Goals: Toner 52, Bore 73. Att: 4,203. Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).

Mansfield v Grimsby
Mansfield midfielder Stephen Dawson is expected to return to the side after recovering from an ankle injury. Simon Brown could also feature as he recovers from a knee injury but Danny Reet (leg) faces a late fitness test. Grimsby striker Gary Jones begins his three-match suspension after being sent off at the weekend but Paul Bolland should return from a knee injury. On-loan Scunthorpe defender Tony Butler will be allowed to play if his parent club are beaten by Port Vale on Monday.

Mansfield 3-0 Grimsby
Mansfield striker Chris Beardsley hit two late goals to secure his side's passage into the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section quarter-finals. The Stags were gifted a lead when Danny Boshell turned a Matt Hamshaw corner past his own `keeper from close range. Mansfield put the tie beyond Grimsby when he sent Beardsley clear to make it 2-0 with just 10 minutes remaining. And it was all over when Beardsley squeezed the ball home after Michael Boulding sent him through. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mansfield: White, Mullins (Wood 84), Buxton, Baptiste, Sheehan, Hamshaw (Brown 74), D'Laryea, Lloyd (Rory Boulding 58), Coke, Beardsley, Michael Boulding. Subs Not Used: Jelleyman, Birchall. Booked: Sheehan, Rory Boulding. Goals: Butler 37 og, Beardsley 79, 85. Grimsby: Barnes, McDermott, Fenton, Butler, Croft (Harkins 72), James (Hegarty 67), Ravenhill, Boshell, Toner, Bore (North 46), Rankin. Subs Not Used: Whittle, Murray. Booked: Hegarty, Harkins. Att: 1,761. Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).

Grimsby boss rues tired display
Grimsby manager Graham Rodger feels his players were tired as they went out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 3-0 defeat at Mansfield Town. Rodger told SSB: \"The effort that went into Saturday's game was always a concern and we were a little bit low on fuel. \"The difference in performance from Saturday to Tuesday was marked, and that was the most disappointing thing. \"We need to make turn up and give a Peterborough type display on Saturday.\"

Grimsby v MK Dons
Grimsby have Gary Jones suspended, and on-loan Scunthorpe defender Andy Butler is a doubt with flu. Defender Tom Newey may miss out with a knee injury. Midfielder Paul Bolland should return after a knee strain and Isaiah Rankin should recover from a thigh injury. MK Dons could have Clive Platt and Lloyd Dyer back after being given leave to be at the birth of their children. Gareth Edds and Aaron Wilbraham are both struggling with toe injuries and remain doubtful starters.

Grimsby 1-3 MK Dons
Two Aaron Wilbraham goals eased MK Dons to victory against the Mariners. Both sides went close in a goalless first period before the Dons went ahead with Izale McLeod's close-range effort after a Jon-Paul McGovern's fine cross. And they doubled their advantage when Wilbraham lashed into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Wilbraham tapped in from six yards from a Lloyd Dyer corner before Ricky Ravenhill scored in injury time for Grimsby after Tom Newey's pass. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grimsby: Barnes, Croft, Whittle, Fenton, Newey, James (Hegarty 34), Bolland, Ravenhill, Toner, Rankin, Bore (North 87). Subs Not Used: Murray, McDermott, Boshell. Booked: Hegarty. Goals: Ravenhill 90. Milton Keynes Dons: Harper, Jamie Smith, Diallo, O'Hanlon, Lewington, McGovern, Edds (Mitchell 89), Andrews, Dyer (Page 83), McLeod (Taylor 86), Wilbraham. Subs Not Used: Baines, Crooks. Goals: McLeod 53, Wilbraham 60, 79. Att: 3,268 Ref: S Bratt (West Midlands).

Northampton v Grimsby
A virus has made Northampton midfielder Joe Burnell a doubtful starter, but he could be named on the bench. On-loan winger Mitchell Cole returned to Southend, so Jerome Watt may be in line for a rare start. New Grimsby boss Alan Buckley will be without several key players with Gary Jones completing a three-match ban. Michael Reddy and Gary Cohen remain absent, and on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Kevin James is out with a dislocated shoulder.

Grimsby v Accrington
Grimsby have defender Tom Newey back after a one-match ban. The League Two strugglers also have loan signings Anthony Pulis, Martin Paterson and Peter Till available. Accrington have four new loan signings in David Mannix, Adam Dugdale, Joe Jacobson and Curtis McDonald all in contention to start. But Jay Harris starts the first game of a three-match ban while skipper Peter Cavanagh is missing for the next three months with a knee injury.

Mariners await hearing on stadium
Grimsby chairman John Fenty is confident that the League Two outfit will be granted planning permission to build a new stadium at Great Coates. The club will find out on 25 January, 2007, if their plans have been passed. Fenty said: \"Our proposals offer the same benefits to the community as the Salford and Colchester community stadiums which have been passed. \"We are now looking forward to some positive news from our local authority,\" he told Grimsby's website.

Grimsby tie up treble loan swoop
Grimsby have completed the treble loan signing of Birmingham winger Peter Til and Stoke pair Anthony Pullis and Martin Paterson. All three have signed on initial one-month deals. Midfielder Pulis is the son of Stoke manager Tony and arrived at the Britannia Stadium in 2004. Potters team-mate Paterson has made two appearances in the Stoke attack, while Til is a product of the Blues Academy and signed his first contract in 2005.

McDermott confirms his retirement
Grimsby Town defender John McDermott has confirmed that he will definitely retire at the end of the season. The Mariners' record-appearance holder, 37, says there will be no repeat of last season's decision to play on for a further 12 months. McDermott told Grimsby's website: \"It's no secret this will be my last season playing. It's been really frustrating for me this season. \"I've had niggling injuries and I've got to look at the future.\"

Grimsby v Torquay
Grimsby's Gary Jones begins a four-match ban while fellow striker Michael Reddy is nearing full fitness but is set to be on the bench again. Veteran defender John McDermott (calf) is rated doubtful while midfielder Paul Bolland (foot) is also set to miss out but Nick Fenton is back from a ban. Torquay player of the year Kevin Hill proved his recovery from a virus by scoring twice for the reserves. Craig Taylor is also in contention after back and thigh injuries.

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