Nigel Clough says there is 'no danger' of Mansfield Town underestimating Grimsby Town

Nigel Clough knows his side need to turn up to beat Grimsby. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTD

The weakened Mariners, who have 10 first-team players out, have won just once in the last 16 games and are currently eight points adrift of safety.

But Clough knows his side must keep their standards high if they are to get the win.

“It is a big opportunity for us being at home and I just hope we are on it,” he said.

“There is no chance of us taking them lightly. Hopefully we can relax and go out and play. They will be fighting and scrapping for everything and you can’t pay attention to the league table.

“They are not out of it by any means. They have drawn the last three and will want to stay unbeaten.

“They are putting the steps in place that you need to go from losing matches to winning some and they will scrap and battle.

“If we keep a clean sheet then hopefully we will create enough chances to get the win.”

But Clough knows his side need some luck and to keep working hard to create the chances needed.

“We showed character to get back in it against Carlisle and had the chances to win it,” he added.

“On another day we could have put a couple in. We didn't do a lot long in the game and deserved at least a point.

“We don't want to make too big a thing of missing chances and putting pressure on the players.

“We are needing too many chances to get one goal. We should be getting more goals with the chances, but that will come.

“We need the chances to drop to the right people at the right time and we just need to concentrate in the final thirds.

“It feels like not a lot has dropped for us in both penalty areas right now. We are due for some to fall for us but we have to keep working and do enough to win the game if the ball doesn’t drop.

“If you keep doing the right thing then something will drop for you.”

George Maris and Ollie Clarke could be in the squad for Grimsby, but George Lapslie is likely to miss out with Clough saying he is still ‘a few days away’

Visit www.chad.co.uk/mansfieldtown for full report and reaction from Stags v Grimsby.