Mariners set for shooting practice with manager

IAN Holloway has said his Grimsby Town players will take extra shooting practice in training after being held to a 1-1 draw by Mansfield.

The Mariners picked up their first point in four games at Blundell Park as Ira Jackson Jr’s first goal for the club was cancelled out by Nicky Maynard’s penalty - but it could have been more for the hosts.

Luke Waterfall’s late header was superbly saved by Marek Stech, while Owura Edwards fired wide on a couple of occasions as Town hunted down the win.

Despite feeling as though his side missed an opportunity to take all three points, Holloway was nevertheless pleased with the improved display from his forwards.

“My wife told me off when I got home the other evening,” Holloway said. “She said she’s watched all my football, and she asked ‘where are your centreforwards?’

“I said ‘well we did alright in the second half against a really good team’, and she said ‘no, they were never up front’.

“When I watched it back, oh my god. “It’s quite simple really, just get up there.

“I felt we did that, and I thought they did really well at times. It isn’t rocket science.

“We needed a first goal, we got one from Ira, that was brilliant.

“We hit the target, we got a follow-up, and all our other shots went wide, so have a guess what we’re going to do on Monday.

“We’re going to do some shooting practice!

“It’ll come. I like the endeavour, I like what we did, I like the subs that came on. I felt I got that right at the time.”

Holloway added: “I thought we had the better of the first half, he had a go at them and that’s what they can do.

“By the end of it, I probably would’ve taken that point yesterday if you gave it me, but I’m a bit disappointed because I felt we should have won that.”