Wolves manager Dave Jones felt Nathan Blake's match-winning strike at Grimsby made amends for his sending-off against Rotherham at the weekend.

Blake's first-half strike brought Wolves a valuable 1-0 win and three points which moved them up to fifth in the table, above Reading on goal difference.

But it left Grimsby anchored in the bottom two and with a mountain to climb to avoid the drop to Division Two.

Jones said: "He owed us one after Saturday when he was sent off. He has repaid us tonight.

"It was a good three points for us. We could have made life a bit easier by putting away our chances because at 1-0 Grimsby still had hope, but Matt Murray has not had a save to make and the back five were superb."

Grimsby player-boss Paul Groves refused to give up hope and said that Saturday's home match with Crystal Palace was now a big game for the club.

"I think if you look back at the game tonight the worst we should have had was a point.

"The spirit is good in the camp and I felt that we did not deserve to lose tonight.

"But we did not have enough quality in the final third. We had half-chances but we did not work the 'keeper enough."

Grimsby took the initiative and Richard Hughes tested Murray with an early shot on the turn.

There were appeals for a penalty in the eighth minute when Grimsby full-back John McDermott, raiding into the box, went down under challenge from Lee Naylor but referee Eddie Wolstenholme waved away the appeals.

But the Mariners should have gone ahead a minute later when Murray lost control of a back-pass and Stuart Campbell raced in but somehow missed the loose ball and the goalkeeper was able to clear.

Blake showed his intentions when giving Simon Ford the slip before firing into the side-netting.

And it was Blake who then escaped the attentions of George Santos before drilling an unstoppable left-foot shot low across Danny Coyne to put Wolves ahead.

Jones' side should have made it two in the 25th minute but Kenny Miller volleyed wide from Naylor's left-wing cross.

Paul Ince got into the act three minutes later, diving to head just wide from Mark Kennedy's cross.

Grimsby's big chance of the half came eight minutes before the break when McDermott crossed from the right and the unmarked Hughes sliced wide from 12 yards.

The last action of the half came from Wolves with Miller meeting Kennedy's cross with a powerful header which was held low down by Coyne.

The goalkeeper produced the save of the match four minutes into the second half.

Blake shook off Santos before slamming a left-foot shot goalwards only for Coyne to flick out his hand and divert the ball over the crossbar.

Darren Mansaram then had a great chance to equalise for Grimsby in the 61st minute. Campbell crossed from the right to the unmarked striker who put a glancing header just past the far post.

It was Mansaram again who broke onto a Michael Keane through-ball only to fire over the crossbar with his left foot.

Then substitute Michael Boulding released Mansaram who this time fired over with his right foot.