Grimsby Town 3, Harriers 1

STEVE Burr wants Harriers’ defence to find their inner-Scrooge again after they paid the price for costly errors at the back.

The Carpetmen’s defensive resilience, which propelled them into the play-offs last season, seems to have deserted them as they gifted the Grimsby dangerman Scott Neilson two goals.

Apart from the worrying gaps in the back line, there was very little between Harriers and the Mariners during an entertaining end-to-end Skrill Premier affair which would have pleased the neutral watching on BT Sport.

However, for the 151 fans who made the trip last Thursday evening, many of who were resplendent in Santa costumes, there was no three points gift-wrapped as they slipped to a third straight defeat.

The worst run of results since the start of the 2012-13 campaign, when the Aggborough outfit lost the first five matches, is hard to explain.

The same back four and keeper that made them so miserly remains intact, while the team in front of them is largely the same apart from one or two new faces.

“We were really disappointed with the goals we conceded,” lamented the manager.

“We started off really brightly and to find ourselves 2-1 down from two mistakes is not helping our cause.

“At the back end of last season and early on in this one I knew when balls were going the box we were putting our heads on them and clearing the danger.

“But we need that desire back to make sure we’re a lot more solid at the back.”

Harriers had previously won the last three matches at Blundell Park and they made a rip-roaring start in the eighth minute when Michael Gash opened the scoring with a wickedly deflected shot.

With Joe Lolley looking dangerous and Harriers finding their passing groove, it looked as though they might kick-off their festive fixtures with their first win over one of the promotions rivals.

But Craig Disley levelled it up in the 17th minute after the visitors failed to deal with Sam Hatton’s long throw-in, which was flicked on by Clayton Donaldson.

Harriers’ defence paid the price for backing off in the 30th minute as Neilson had time and space to curl a low shot in the back of the net.

Both sides were pouring forward in attack, but all too often Ross Hannah and Neilson were getting in behind the defence. Hannah should have bagged a third for Town just before half-time but fired into side netting from a tight angle.

Neilson put the game beyond them on 62 minutes, racing onto Lenell John-Lewis’ flick, and, as keeper Danny Lewis slipped momentarily, chipped the ball over him.

Danny Jackman, Anthony Malbon and Lolley all had chances but found McKeown in fine form as Harriers’ winless run on their travels stretched to six matches.

HARRIERS: Lewis 5, L Vaughan 6, Demetriou 6, Storer 7, Dunkley 6, Fowler 7, Gash 6, Malbon 6 (Dance, 76), Jackman 7, LOLLEY 8, Gowling 6.

Subs not used: Tolley, Blissett, N Vaughan, Riis.

GRIMBSY: McKeown, Hatton, Thomas, Kerr, Pearson, Disley, Neilson (McLaughlin, 77), McDonald, John-Lewis (Cook, 83), Hannah (Southwell, 90), Rodman. Subs not used: Colbeck, Bignot.

Referee: B Toner.

Attendance: 3,086 (151)