Bolton kept their play-off hopes alive as they strolled to victory at Grimsby.

Centre-back Gudni Bergsson grabbed the vital goal in the 39th minute, but Wanderers wasted a hatful of chances.

Lightweight Grimsby did not fashion a single clear-cut opportunity and are still looking for the one win which should preserve their Division One status.

The closest they came was through right-back John McDermott in just the fourth minute.

A clearance fell to him just outside the box and his low right-footer was pushed around the post by Jussi Jaaskelaien.

Bolton then took over and should have gone ahead in the 32nd minute when Bo Hansen raced clear. But after drawing keeper Danny Coyne he shot wide of the far post.

Straight after that some magic from Claus Jensen saw the Dane dribble his way into the box, but with the goal at his mercy he fired straight at Coyne.

Just before half-time Michael Johansen screwed his shot wide after been set up by Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Grimsby had the chance to level early in the second half when Alan Pouton was brought down on the edge of the box, but Tony Gallimore blazed his free-kick well over the bar.

But after that it was only keeper Coyne who stood between Grimsby and a hammering.

Firstly he saved at the feet of Hansen as the striker raced clear of the defence.

Then he denied the same player with a brilliant one-handed save from a left-foot shot.

Grimsby pushed skipper Paul Groves up front in a bid to add some height and weight to the attack, but it was all to no avail.

In fact, Bolton finished the stronger and Coyne again saved the Mariners when he rushed from his goal to deny Gudjohnsen.

Teams:

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Lever, Groves, Gallimore, Donovan, Coldicott, Pouton, D. Smith, Clare, Nicholls (Black 61).

Subs Not Used: Butterfield, Buckley, Bloomer, Croudson.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, O'Kane, Bergsson (Holden 75), Ritchie, Whitlow, Johansen, Jensen, Passi (Elliott 55), Johnston, Gudjohnsen, Hansen (Holdsworth 85).

Subs Not Used: Banks, Taylor.

Booked: Johnston, O'Kane.

Goals: Bergsson 39.

Att: 5,289

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).