Mariners facing keeper crisis ahead of Cobblers visit

Grimsby Town is the next stop on the squeaky bum time tour with massive implications on both ends of the table on Friday night. The Cobblers can go temporarily fifth, for 24 hours at least, with a win at Blundell Park whilst a point would be enough to take us back into the top seven until the others catch up on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts are facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the game with first choice Nick Colgan down with a groin injury that he picked up in training on Thursday. Second choice Leigh Overton is also on the sidelines already and so Grimsby are battling hard to get in an emergency loan keeper in before the game. Hull City stopper Mark Oxley is believed to be the target for any such deal that should go through this evening.

The Cobblers have no fresh concerns but are still without our own first choice keeper with Chris Dunn still out . Kevin Thornton and Andy Holt are both missing through knee injuries but there’s plenty of food for thought for Sammo with three substitutes that impressed in the closing stages at Lincoln last weekend pushing for a starting place. Sammo has admitted that it would be harsh to despatch Billy McKay after one quiet game at Sincil Bank but Steve Guinan is chomping on the bit to get back into first team action.

There’s a fiery recent history with Grimsby of course with our last meeting in Cleethorpes ending with Ryan Gilligan’s dramatic injury time equaliser snatching promotion away from the Mariners right at the death. It’s bound to be just as nervy this time around with precious points to play for and after these two Easter games we’ll know a lot more about where we’re going to be come the end of the season.