Grimsby stole a 2-1 success as Stags stuttered to an 11th game without a win at Field Mill - 10 of them defeats.

• Mansfield Town 1 Grimsby Town 2

Holland must now hope on a result at Bury on Monday to keep his chances of getting the job full time alive.

But he said: "The lads heads are down right now but I never expected to win 10 out of 10 and I am still very positive.

• To listen to a full audio interview with the caretaker manager by Chad's Stephen Thirkill, click on the green play icon

"There are nine games left, mostly against the sides around us, and loads to play for. We have some massive games ahead.

"The lads gave everything again even though we didn't play perhaps quite as well as we did in the last two.

• AUDIO: Luck went against Stags - Mullins

"I still saw enough out there today to believe we can get out of this.

"If we go to Macclesfield and win we are two points adrift with two games in hand.

"Nothing was decided by this defeat today. I am disappointed to lose but not deflated by the performance.

• Ex-boss Watkiss backing Stags to stay up

"I do not know what will happen with the job but I believe I am the right man for it. If you brought someone else in now they would have a lot of work to do. The lads have proved they want me to get it.

"We started very brightly after half time and Nathan Arnold scored a good goal. But we just couldn't get the second and their winner was an absolute peach.

"It's no good feeling sorry for ourselves. They have to puff their chests out and show some pride.

• I want to help Stags stay up - debutant Wainwright

"We probably need to win four of five of our last nine. We certainly need a result a home very quickly.

"It was a difficult game for the new lads (Neil Wainwright and Kevin Horlock) to come into but both showed glimpses of what they've got."

Mariners managers Alan Buckley said: "I am very pleased with the result.

"We intended to come here and have a go at them and I was delighted with the first half. We played some decent football though the final ball was sometimes lacking, but I thought we deserved our lead.

"But I was bitterly disappointed with our second half performance, certainly the first 20 minutes when Mansfield could have scored three or four.

"It was only a combination of good defending and a bit of luck that kept them out and eventually we picked our own game up again.

"And it was a fantastic winning goal - a superb first-time strike.

"Danny Boshell had a big influence on the game and scored the winner after keeping out two chances for them on the line.

"Mansfield played some good football to be fair so credit to them. They are scrapping for their lives, but didn't play long ball. They passed the ball well and supported each other well."