Manager Groves Comments on the Forest Game

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 24/02/2002

THE point gained from the Nottingham Forest game will assist Grimsby Town in their fight to move out of the First Division relegation zone. The performance of Andy Todd and Martin Pringle will also bring some hope to the Mariners fans.

Todd was reported to got stronger as the game progressed and Pringle looked to have the ability to break through the Forest defence and had a number of chances to do so.

Todd was first to show his capabilities with a left-foot drive that went over the top after good work by Boulding.

Paul Groves commenting on the loan pair said "The two new boys fitted in well, I was very pleased. Todd showed his quality and he reads the game very well and his composure and his ability to pass the ball was exceptional."

"Martin showed one or two bits of his armoury in terms of his pace, good awareness and he can be a threat. I'm delighted with the way they have settled in immediately. Andy showed his quality. He has a lot of composure and his passing of the ball is exceptional."

"It was important that we got something today to build on the victory we achieved last week. We are not getting carried away, we are not daft enough to do so. We are pleased with a point, we would have taken a point before the game. We set out to try and frustrate them and play on the break using the two lads' pace and it turned out that way. I think when you do play on the break you can create opportunities."

"We've got a lot of work still to do, we are certainly giving it a good go."

"Three of the next four league games are at home and the home games were always going to be important, there is probably more emphasis on it now because of our position."

"Andy Todd is a little bit sore after the game, obviously Martin's a bit tired and Wayne Burnett is suffering with blisters, apart from that everybody came through okay. It was quite a heavy pitch today in the end and we have to try and recover quickly now."

Groves praised Michael Boulding for what was one of his best games for the Mariners. "Michael has continued to improve with every game and we are very pleased with his progress."

But Groves was pleased with the overall performance following on from the Mariners' first victory in nine games against Sheffield United a week earlier.

He added: "It was important that we got something today to build on the victory we achieved last week.

"We would have taken a point before the kick off so I've got to be pleased with that."

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