Marcelo's second-half strike assured Birmingham of their place in the First
Division promotion play-offs for the third successive season.
In recent weeks, Blues have made heavy weather of their task and the win over
Grimsby was their first in 11 games.
Their recent problems were clearly evident against an average-looking Grimsby
side which had been hammered 4-1 in midweek at home by Blackburn.
City have lost their confidence and failed to dominate the Mariners in their
quest for a vital win.
With only four points from their previous 10 games, Birmingham were desperate
for a long overdue win but their attack failed to function and Grimsby were
rarely troubled.
Andrew Johnson was the most dangerous Birmingham player but on the two
occasion he broke clear in the first half he fired his shots straight at Grimsby
goalkeeper Danny Coyne.
There was a great deal of frustration about Birmingham's play and it only
disappeared in the second half after Marcelo gave them the 65th-minute lead.
The turning point came when Dele Adebola was sent on for skipper Martin
O'Connor in the 63rd minute.
Within two minutes Birmingham were ahead when Johnson pushed a pass into the
path of Marcelo who glided a low shot to the left of Coyne.
The unfortunate Adebola last only a further three minutes as he hurt himself
crashing into a post after blasting a close-range shot over the bar.
Grimsby battled to the end with Stuart Campbell and Menno Willems going close
to an equaliser only to be thwarted by two brave saves from Ian Bennett.
The Mariners are still dicing with relegation but should survive.
Teams
Birmingham: Bennett, Eaden (Holdsworth 85), Purse,
Michael Johnson, Grainger, Hughes, Sonner,
O'Connor (Adebola 63), Woodhouse, Marcelo, Andrew Johnson,
Adebola (Gill 75).
Subs Not Used: Poole, Horsfield.
Booked: Woodhouse, Sonner, Marcelo, Andrew Johnson.
Goals: Marcelo 64.
Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Groves, Raven, Campbell,
Butterfield, Pouton (Jeffrey 71), Donovan, Livingstone,
Cornwall (Willems 71).
Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, David Smith, Black.
Booked: Raven.
Att: 24,822
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
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