LENNIE Lawrence was the first division's first manager of the month this season but Grimsby Town have struggled ever since he collected the August award.

"The way we started the season aspirations became greater than just survival," Lawrence admitted. "But we have come down to earth with a resounding bump."

A run of defeats has seen the Mariners drop into the decidedly choppy waters near the foot of the table and they start tonight just one point and one place above the relegation zone.

But Lawrence remained upbeat ahead of tonight's game as he said: "We have turned the corner a bit and we have been putting in some decent performances.

"I don't feel we have been getting all the points that we deserve."

The manager's greatest concern has been the tendency to drop points by losing late goals.

"That was something we did not do all last season," he claimed. "But we dropped two points against Millwall last weekend by letting in a 93rd minute goal.

"We earlier lost to a late goal at Bradford that took a wicked deflection and conceded another late winner at Wimbledon."

The last time Grimsby won a game it was against Birmingham City on a Friday night in front of the television cameras and Lawrence is hoping for a repeat tonight.

He could be boosted by the return of Phil Jevons in attack, the man who struck the memorable winner against Liverpool in the Worthington Cup. He is likely to partner Bradley Allen in attack.

Former tennis professional Mick Boulding will be up against Dean West down the Clarets' right flank with Stewart Campbell on the other wing in a 4-4-2 formation.

Blackburn Rovers defender Marlon Broomes is in his third month on loan at Blundell Park and he has impressed alongside Paul Groves at the back.

Former tennis professional Mick Boulding will be up against Dean West down the Clarets' right flank with Stewart Campbell on the other wing in a 4-4-2 formation. Throughout the season the first division has seen various teams enjoying runs of good and bad form making it the tightest it has been in years.

But Lawrence insisted: "That does not mean that the standards are slipping, it just means that there is more competition between teams.

"By this time last year it felt like everything was decided but I think that this time will be one of those when it will be the team that finishes the best over the last eight games that will go up."