David Artell says Grimsby need to stop conceding soft goals

Goals from Charlie McCann and Andreas Weimann put the home side 2-0 up before half-time.

But substitute Mark Shelton sparked the response for David Artell’s side and Kieran Green headed in a late equaliser to make it four successive draws for the Mariners.

“We showed good character second half, but we should never have been in that position in the first half,” Artell said.

“It was a game of two halves for us in terms of performance. We were insipid first half and they had energy, walloped it down the hill and chased after it and we didn’t run after them as much as we should have done.

“We didn’t show the aggression needed not to get beaten, giving away two soft goals, really poor. We have to stop that.

“Second half we were much the better team and we should have won the game in the end. We had a couple of really big chances as well as the goals but if we keep giving teams two goals every game, we are not going to win many football games.

“We know where we have to work and those first contacts and second balls are really important, as opposed to just assuming we have the right to play because we think we’re now a good team – that’s not a winning mindset. We have to be much more resolute in our defending as a team.”

Cheltenham opened the scoring when Jake Evans set up McCann for his fourth goal of the season in the 12th minute, with a first-time finish into the bottom right corner.

It was 2-0 when Evans was tripped by Cameron McJannet in the box and Weimann sent David Harrington the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 39th minute.

Shelton went on at half-time and he pulled one back with a neat finish after Harvey Rodgers’ pass two minutes into the second half.

And Green leapt highest to nod Jayden Sweeney’s corner into the net in the 82nd minute as honours finished even.

Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill was sent off along with Grimsby’s first-team coach analyst Ray Shearwood after a post-match fracas.

Robins assistant manager Rob Edwards was delighted with their first-half display, but after conceding so early in the second half, he admitted it was a different game.

“There are two sides of the game, so you have to dig in as much as you can,” he said.

“Grimsby were pressing for a goal throughout the half, but the boys did well.

“We have some good characters and some good leaders and they showed those leadership qualities, it was just disappointing to concede the second from a set piece.

“They have certain threats and the one they scored from was something we’d identified.

“We’ll have a look at that again and see if we can help the players with the information – it’s something we should have been able to avoid.”