Grimsby Town at Buxton: Loan duo to sit out FA Trophy tie

GRIMSBY Town are set to be without Scott Neilson and Nathan Pond for tonight's FA Trophy replay at Buxton (7.45pm).

The on-loan duo will be rested for the trip to Derbyshire to give both a chance to recover from niggling injuries ahead of a packed schedule of games.

After tonight's tie, the Mariners face a long journey to Ebbsfleet on Saturday before an equally gruelling trip up north to face Gateshead on Tuesday evening.

And speaking ahead of tonight's replay, joint boss Rob Scott said that changes will be made to cope with that rigourous run of games.

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He said: "We've got a few out for tonight – Scott Neilson is injured, he's got a sore groin which he's had for a little bit so we'll take the opportunity to rest him.

"Nathan Pond has had a knock that he's carried for a while as well so we'll let that settle down because he could do with a bit longer.

"Obviously Frankie Artus and Joe Colbeck are still out as well so there are a few important members of the squad who aren't available to us tonight.

"I think we'll be changing it around a bit tonight anyway because the fact of the matter is that we've got a lot of games coming up.

"Tonight means that we're going to have played Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, and that will take its toll.

"We play Buxton tonight and then we've got a long journey to Ebbsfleet on Saturday and then back up all the way to Gateshead on Tuesday – it's a lot of travelling.

"People might say 'they're footballers, it's what they're paid for, they're too pampered', but it's not quite like that at this level.

"It was always the intention to build a squad that could cope for situations like this.

"When we started the season, we still didn't feel that we had a full quota but we knew we'd have to strengthen as things went on.

"We now feel that we've got a really strong squad and we don't feel that any changes we make to the starting 11 weaken it."

If the Mariners beat the Bucks at the second time of asking tonight, they will set up a Second Round home tie with either Braintree or Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday, December 15.

And Scott says that as well as the opposition, his side will also have to battle with what are expected to be difficult conditions in Derbyshire.

He continued: "It will be another tough game tonight – especially when you look at the conditions. It's not going to be an easy night.

"With the weather as it has been, the condition of the pitch remains to be seen.

"But we've got ourselves into this position and now we've got to do something about it.

"The players have been excellent up to this point in the season. We had a bit of a blip on Saturday but we'll be looking to put that right tonight.

"It will be a tough game but it's one in which we're going to have to stand up and be counted."