JOHN McGreal admits he would take a scrappy victory against Grimsby Town today as his Colchester United side look to get back to winning ways.

The U’s host the Mariners on the back of a poor run of form and have suffered three straight home league defeats, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Colchester head into the Easter programme five points adrift of the League Two play-off positions with four games to go, following a run of five defeats in their last six fixtures.

And head coach McGreal says the three points are all important for his team this afternoon (kick-off 3pm), against a Grimsby side who lie 17th in the table and without a win in their last nine matches.

McGreal said: “I’d love a scrappy 1-0 win – that would be fantastic but I’m sure Grimsby have got their own house to keep in order.

“It’s down to us and it’s a game that we’re all looking forward to.

“We’re hoping that we can get that one player who can get us that goal lead – even if it takes us until the 96th minute, it doesn’t matter at this time.

“We’re just looking to win a game of football.

“Grimsby are a similar size club to us – they have a bottom-half budget similar to us.

“In a way, they have nothing to play for now but we have and we’ve had something to play for all season.

“That’s where you look at our club – six academy individuals playing week in, week out and it’s successful in what we’re doing.

“We want to now kick on again.

“Grimsby could come and cause us problems because I’m sure he (Michael Jolley) will be thinking of different players for next season and possibly a couple of young boys, because I know he likes a bit of youth in his team.

“But we’ve done our analysis over the last few days and it’s about what we try and do – that’s the most important thing.

“We’ve broken it down to a four-game window with the boys and the first game is Grimsby where all we want to do is get three points.

“What’s gone has gone.

“We’ll take it game by game after that and it is important that we do try and put on a win for our home supporters.”

Colchester will check on the fitness of midfielder Ben Stevenson prior to today's game.

The former Wolves youngster was on the bench for the U's defeat at Bury last weekend, having been suffering with a hamstring problem in the run-up to the trip to Gigg Lane.

McGreal added: “Ben has been sore given the number of games and I was mindful (against Bury) with what happened with Harry Pell’s hamstring.

“As much as you want to play them and they’ll tell you that they’re fit, you don’t want these boys out injured especially with this four-game window.

“It’s one where we’re just assessing boys throughout the week.

“Ben has trained this week and he’ll definitely come back into our thinking for Friday.

“It’s getting to that stage of the season where there are tired minds and we need everyone to kick on together."