I'M hoping the phrase 'there's a first time for everything' on Saturday. It's no secret that Grimsby isn't the best place to go for us, but after we finally beat Wolves last week, who we had a bad history with in terms of results, anything could happen.

I don't think there'll be 11 goals, but then again I never thought I'd see them last time.

I'm suspended for the trip but I'll still be travelling with the lads and I'll sit in the stand with Dean West and Gareth Taylor, who unfortunately probably won't get their red cards rescinded.

We are due a win there so it would be nice to do it in the Cup and get in the next round and get another big side.

We had a bit of experience against Tottenham and Manchester United.

We enjoyed that and it would be nice to taste it again, so Saturday is an important game for us.

I think if we can manage to keep a clean sheet we'll be in with a good chance.

But there's something about Grimsby.

I don't know what it is. We might be having an overnight trip because I've heard the hotel is covered on the FA's expenses, so maybe going overnight could be the key to winning at Grimsby. It will be interesting to see whether that does work out or not.

At least it shouldn't be an eight-hour journey. The Christmas-time fixtures were not kind to us at all and we've had a couple of stinking journeys with eight hours to Brighton last week and about seven hours to get down to Kent to play Gillingham the week before.

But it's one of those things - someone has to go down there and if it wasn't us it would be someone else.

I've always felt that Preston on Boxing Day would be a lovely game but it doesn't happen like that for some reason.

When I played in Ireland, the Boxing Day games was always the big derby - Linfield v Glentoran.

It was the tradition for everyone to go, we'd have a bumper crowd and I've always wondered why they haven't done something like that with us and Preston.

But with the amount of teams you can't all play derby games. It's just been unfortunate for us.

The card school keeps you going though.

I had to partner Robbie Blake, who hasn't had a partner lately as he's probably the worst card player. If you had Premiership card leagues he'd be Vauxhall Conference! But we seemed to gel. I must have brought the best out of him because we did all right.

As it's New Year, I thought I'd conjure up some resolutions for my team-mates.

For a start I think Paul Weller could do to improve his taste in music - he needs a new Erasure CD or something.

Gareth Taylor and Tony Grant need to build their chests up a bit, while Blakey and 'Stretch' (Gordon Armstrong) could do with investing in some Listerine to freshen their breath.

I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions but, if I had to, I suppose I would have to stop winding the gaffer up.