Town manager Joe Royle labelled his side's performance against bogey side Grimsby as the worst since he's been at the club. The Blues were indebted to Darren Bent for two equalisers against the struggling Mariners.

Royle said: "It was out poorest 90 minutes since I have been with the club.

"We weren't creating, we weren't crossing well and we weren't passing well.

"The pitch is crumbling a bit which is making it hard for us but we cannot go on leaking goals like we are at the moment.

"Only Matt Holland defended properly, but we need him in two different positions."

Another player Royle was impressed with was top scorer Darren Bent: "When you get the ball to him Darren looks dangerous.

"I didn't think we deserved to lose because our goalkeeper didn't have anything to do except for the two goals."

Royle says that youngs keeper James Pullen took full responsibilty for the second Grimsby goal: "The kid held his hands up and was embarrassed by the second goal.

Pullen was thrown in as a replacement for the underperforming Andy Marshall as the Town manager is unable to bring anyone in at present: "As we are in administration we cannot get anyone in any position."

Grimsby player-manager and scorer of the first goal, Paul Groves, was understandably frustrated after dropping two points right at the end: "Of course I am disappointed. You always are when you lead until a couple of minutes from the end.

"We didn't create much in the second half but our keeper hardly had a save to make either.

"John Oster and Richard Hughes played a big part. It was just as though Oster had not been away. He's a class act.

"I am sure the relegation battle will go to the very end of the season. It will be difficult, there's no doubt about that.

"The positives from the game were that we scored two goals away from home and limited a good side to not too many chances."

Town skipper Matt Holland said that the Blues being in administration is no defence for such a poor performance: "It's a lame excuse for players if they use that fact for any failings on the field.

"Once you have crossed the white line you forget all about that. When I was in a similar position at Bournemouth it united us, if anything."

There were boos for Town at the end, and Holland could empathise: "To be honest I can understand their frustrations."

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