|
"I really won't know until an hour before kick-off who I've got available - there's just no other way. I want to give them every chance but it's too early to make a decision. It doesn't help because you have thoughts on a team and formation and then it could all change. I would hope a few of those that missed training would be better 24 hours on but we have to wait and see.
"I am as frustrated as any fan in the stands with our league form. I told the players as much after Saturday's game because how we can play so well in the two cup games and then turn in a 55 minutes like we did against Morecambe is beyond me.
"If the players haven't got it in their hearts to get out there and roll their sleeves up and battle for the football club, I'm afraid I can't give them that. For the previous two games we had looked a really good collective unit. We have worked hard, looked determined, resolute and played some decent football at times.
"We got two results and, with all respect to Sammy (McIlroy) and his lads, against better sides than Morecambe. It's a total and absolute mystery. I carry the can. I'm supposed to have the answers. But really, you look at the players and say 'tell me, after the last two games, why have we seen the first 55 minutes that we have just seen'.
"I can't even think of one good thing to say about us in the first 55 minutes. I'm not going to criticise the players individually or anything like that - but at some stage they are going to have to accept their own responsibilities about going out there and playing.
"We are sadly lacking a lot of the time. Whether there is a bit of fear playing at home, whether the game is important enough to us, whether they are prepared to work hard enough for the cause - you'd better ask them that question. No matter how we prepare them, you can't actually get out there and start kicking the ball for them.
"We are trying different styles and formations and I don't like to do that because you never get a settled side like that. But needs must with injuries and suspensions hitting us hard. In fact, after Saturday, I would be within my rights to make over half-a-dozen changes but I haven't got the bodies.
"We are trying to turn it around and the players have to give all they can every game because any less is unacceptable. They have responded in the right way in training since the weekend so they have to take that out onto the pitch. If we can reproduce the first-half form from the Carlisle and not Morecambe game then I'll be happy."
In team news for the Mariners striker Martin Butler is a major doubt with a hamstring strain. Butler, who limped off towards the end of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Morecambe, missing training on Monday. Also sitting out that training session were fellow striker Gary Jones, who has an ongoing ankle problem, and another frontman in Isaiah Rankin who is on the comeback trail from a stomach injury.
Those three players are rated as 50-50 for the game and defender Nick Fenton also has an ankle injury but did train on Monday so it looks likely that he will play. Meanwhile midfielder Paul Bolland was another to miss a seemingly quiet training session, this time with a thigh strain and he faces a late fitness check ahead of the game tonight.
Two Town men definitely out of action tonight though are midfielder Danny Boshell who is suspended after being straight red carded against Morecambe at the weekend for a studs up challenge on Adam Yates. Meanwhile defender Justin Whittle has a twisted ankle after keeper Gary Montgomery landed on his foot as the squad rushed to congratulate winning penalty taker Paul Bolland following the Johnstone's Paint Trophy shoot-out win over Doncaster.
In one bit of good news for Grimsby boss Alan Buckley, young defender Ryan Bennett will return this evening after missing the home defeat against Morecambe on Saturday following a car accident early last week. The teenager had been on the stand-by list for England under-18 duty in their match against Ghana at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium tomorrow night but his services are not now required by England boss Brian Eastwick.
Buckley made an effort this afternoon to shore up his defensive ranks with the signing of 20-year old defender Sam Hird on loan from Doncaster Rovers for a month. The Keepmoat Stadium outfit don't want the ex-Leeds United man FA cup-tied though so he will have to wait until Saturday to make his Mariners debut when his new club make the trip to Underhill to face League Two play-off hopefuls Barnet.
The referee for tonight's match is Nigel Miller from Durham, and he will be assisted down the lines by Mark Hutchinson from Bingham in Nottinghamshire and Jock Waugh from Sheffield. Meanwhile the fourth official will be Mark Brown from Hull.