Wolves kept at bay

Wolves' fate is no longer in their own hands after they lost their nerve at Blundell Park last night.

To gain a play-off place Colin Lee's team must now beat Bradford City, who are chasing the second automatic promotion place, at Molineux on Sunday and then cast an anxious glance in the direction of Watford and Bolton.

Wolves were in control of this match from start to finish but could not find a way past Steve Croudson, who started the season as a 19-year-old trainee.

He was only playing because of an injury to first choice goalkeeper Andy Love but there seemed to be few nerves as the youngster made outstanding saves from Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane and Neil Emblen as Wolves desperately searched for the much needed win.

The draw was not much better than a poke in the back with a blunt twig for Wolves and not even the introduction of long time hero Steve Bull could provide the answer. Bull's only chance after his second-half introduction came in the 83rd minute but Croudson was again at hand to make a fine save.

Lee, whose job is shouldered with the uncertainty of knowing his contract runs out at the end of the month, made his intentions clear from the start. The Wolves manager told his players before the game that he believed anything less than two wins this week would leave them struggling for a play-off place and he scrapped his normal formation of a five-man mid-field and one striker for a more conventional two-pronged attack.

It could have paid dividends in the fifth minute when Kevin Muscat threaded a pass into the danger area and Harvard Flo was first to react but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Steve Croudson.

Ten minutes later the World Cup striker Flo looked even more puzzled as to why the ball had not gone into the net when his shot struck the inside of a post via a Grimsby defender and somehow bounced to safety.

Despite not getting the victory his side needed Lee was full of praise for his players. "They gave 100 per cent and were superb in the second half," he said. "You get games where the ball just won't go in the net."

Grimsby: Croudson, Butterfield, Gallimore, Handyside, Burnett, Coldicott, Donovan, Black, Clare, Lester, Groves. Subs Not Used: Bloomer, Buckley, Chapman. Booked: Coldicott.

Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Gilkes (Bull 58), Sedgley, Richards, Curle, Robinson (Simpson 70), Emblen, Flo, Keane (Corica 80), Osborn. Booked: Gilkes.

Referee: G Frankland (Middlesbrough).