PREVIEW: Grimsby (H) ‘Sink or Swim’

As Mansfield Town prepare to welcome Grimsby to the One Call Stadium, it reminds me of when families head to the seaside and try to get their little ones to paddle in the water. Sometimes they take it in their strides, whilst others struggle – seeming unease at the prospect of floating away from dry land.

For the Stags tomorrow, having won just once thus far this season – they really need to start swimming like an Olympian in order to live up to the expectations many have put upon them.

Yes there is a long way to go until the end of the season and as we’ve seen in previous years, the tide can indeed change in our favour – but if we don’t get our swimmers to stroke forwards in sync, then I fear we may start to sink in the messy splashes we’re creating.

We’ve played some really nice football at times, but it’s been a mere glimpse of light – almost like the food lights in midweek at the England/Germany Under 19 game! If we can have a little more belief in ourselves at the back and then turn the splashes into prolonged streams of play, we’ll create a soothing ripple and soon be drifting out into sun drenched waters, rather than splutter in horrible dark and dank waters.

Steve Evans needs to refresh the squad a little, the introduction of Alex MacDonald and Alfie Potter would go someway to re-lighting the fire, whilst Bobby Olejnik must surely be in with a shout at keeping goal tomorrow, after all a sturdy performance in the reserves in midweek, especially for MacDonald who will have some serious questions shiukd his name not be in the starting line up.

Grimsby are a good side and will be physical and tough to break down, but we have to battle through because if we drop any more points at this stage of the season – a lot of supporters will start to wonder if it will ever click, that then gets back to the dressing room and a whole negative cycle gets bigger and bigger.
Whereas winning, well that breads confidence doesn’t it?