KEITH Curle says there can be no room for sympathy against Grimsby Town this afternoon.

Nothing less than a win will do for The Mariners if they are to avoid dropping out of the Football League today. And even then that might not be enough if other results go against them, being nine points adrift of safety with four games to play, and a goal difference of -30 the second worst in the division.

But while Latics head coach Curle feels Grimsby are better than their league position suggests, he insists this is no time for Oldham to feel sorry for them and urged his players to stick to their own agenda and finish the season strongly.

“We treat it with professional pride,” he said.

“We fully understand the position they are in - they are fighting for their professional careers so with that will be an element of commitment, but so will we.

"As individuals we have got players out of contract, staff out of contract and we want to put on a performance that we are proud of.

"We know we are in a results industry but we are also in a performance industry as well, and within that performance we expect hard work, commitment, application and ability.

"We’ve got to do our jobs within the way that we play. There’s accountability and players have to do their jobs. If we’re off the pace there’s a knock-on reaction. One person not doing it affects the next person. That’s why we say ‘don’t break the chain, make sure you’re right.’”

Curle added: “It will be a fight first. Both teams will be trying to find out where the weakness is.

“They’ll be wondering if we’re not on it, if we think the season is over and we don’t need to play.

“Let me tell you, if you give a team like Grimsby an opportunity they will trample over you.

"If you are disrespectful you get slapped in the face."

Curle knows only too well the anguish that counterpart Paul Hurst will be feeling with Grimsby on the brink, as he took charge of Torquay on a short-term deal when they were struggling at the bottom of the basement division and ultimately lost their 80-year Football League status in 2007.

"I've been in that situation and it isn't nice," said Curle.

"You ask for your players to give you everything in their fight.

"He (Hurst) will be having sleepless nights and he will be scratching his head because with the players they've got there they shouldn't be down there."