Nicky Law is not promising a new year's football feast at Grimsby.

City chase a third holiday win against the side directly below them in the First Division relegation scrap. And Law does not anticipate a free-scoring extravaganza to see in the New Year.

He said: "It's going to be hard-fought and I don't think it will be pretty. But I don't care as long as we come back from it without getting beaten.

"We've had two great results so far against Stoke and Wolves and it's important that we don't waste them by losing tomorrow. Grimsby will be up for it because it's such a huge match for both sides and it's up to us

to defend as well as we have been doing recently."

City were back in training today after two days off following the Molineux success which snapped a run of eight straight losses on the road.

Robert Molenaar, who missed the weekend's win with a bruised ankle, was hoping to join in.

City are now level on points with Walsall and only three adrift of Preston as they try to pull clear of the bottom five.

Law said: "We've worked very hard lately and still not moved above that 20 mark. But now there is the chance to reach the teams in front of us and extend this group at the bottom.

"I've said all along that we have to make sure we win this mini-league and at the moment we're eight points clear. Tomorrow we've got to make sure we don't lose any ground.

"We knew Christmas would be a big time with the games against Stoke and Grimsby. They were the ones we couldn't afford to lose and we'd take what comes with Wolves.

"We've already reached our six-point target and have still got to go to Grimsby. Anything we get will be an added bonus in a sense and will make life easier for ourselves."