Grantham Town head to Sutton Coldfield in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division

Manager Nathan Arnold insists he will continue to keep looking to revive the fortunes of Grantham Town despite relegation looming large for the Gingerbreads.

Arnold's side now find themselves 13 points adrift of safety in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division with just six matches of the season remaining.

The former Lincoln City and Grimsby Town player is still looking for his first victory as Grantham boss since taking over the Town tenure at the end of December.

However, he inherited a side that last won a league game on October 19 with Grantham unable to break that streak despite some close contests.

Arnold said: "You always try to look for the root cause and this group has suffered for a long period of time this season.

"I can only describe it as trying to resuscitate them half of the time.

"You get a faint pulse and think we're going to put a bit of a run together but then we flat-line again.

"There have been times and moments this season when we've had that faint pulse but unfortunately we've then flat-lined again."

Conceding late goals has been Grantham's downfall in recent matches.

They shipped a last-gasp strike to Hinckley Leicester Road at the weekend as the 1-0 home loss followed late blows in recent games against Rugby Town and Coventry Sphinx.

Arnold added: "The table doesn't lie and we are where we are for a reason.

"It isn't for the lack of trying though because the boys give us everything every week.

"We fall short sometimes with a bit of nous and know-how as well as togetherness and unity.

"People will say that I'm the manager and ask why I'm not creating that or building and moulding the squad because they're a good bunch with good individuals.

"There have been some good performances but I honestly haven't been involved in a run of games which we've had like it during my time in football in the nature of how we have lost games.

"You do sometimes think if things are out of our control a little bit or if things are destined.

"It's how it feels sometimes. We can affect certain things but we've had real bad luck on and off the pitch.

"We've lost players to injury or they've had their loans cut short for whatever reason so we haven't been able to gain that bit of momentum.

"I think we've only fielded the same starting 11 once since I've been in and that hasn't been done intentionally.

"It's just the way that things have gone with injuries or player availability and trying to find the right formula. It's been really tough."

Grantham travel to face 10th-placed Sutton Coldfield on Saturday looking to avenge a three-goal home reversal from the reverse fixture in November.

The Royals have picked up just one point from their last three league games which is a similar run over that same spell to Grantham.

Arnold continued: "I've got real compassion for the players because they've lived it and suffered it for a while now.

"It is huge learning for them moving forward because, once you start developing the pattern, it's the same things that you're saying over and over again.

"When it comes down to decision-making, the players have to learn quickly. Unfortunately you would rather learn when winning games and we're trying to do it when losing matches which has taken a lot out of the group.

"We've got 18 points to accumulate and still fight for and, like I've always said, we will keep fighting while it is still mathematically possible.

"We haven't got a quit in us and, as much as it is incredibly difficult and tough right now, we will stick together and look forward to the next game."

After Saturday's away trip, Grantham will be back in action at the Meres on Saturday, April 5, when they host Wellingborough Town.