Linwood happy to be back
Rob Atkinson's sending off against Northampton Town and subsequent three match suspension handed the 25-year-old a recall to the starting line-up and he didn't disappoint, starring in a 0-0 draw at Sincil Bank.
Teaming up with youngster Olly Lancashire at the heart of the Grimsby defence, Linwood held off the threat of the Imps attack.
Commenting on the side's second successive scoreless draw, he said: "Nick (Colgan) and the whole back four were solid today, I can only remember Lincoln having two shots and you've done your job if the opposition only manage two shots.
"As a team today I thought we were really good when we had the ball, we had spells in the play when we probably could have done better but we had five or six chances, they had one.
"When you come to a place like Lincoln, to a certain extent you've got to be happy with a point but when you look at the overall picture, we think we bossed the game so in that respect we're a bit disappointed not to have got all three."
Speaking after the match, Birkenhead born Linwood admitted that it has been a tough time since he was dropped from the side by caretaker boss Neil Woods.
He said: "It's always disappointing to be left out but I wasn't happy with my performance against Bath, so in that respect Woodsy had no choice but to drop me - but in my last two games I think and hope I've staked my claim for a run in the team.
"That's how football works, the last two games with Rob Atkinson and Olly Lancashire together at the back they've been absolutely outstanding and you've just got to give your support to both of them.
"It probably gives you a kick up the backside to make you work a bit harder, which you shouldn't really need, but it gives you something to think 'I'm not cast iron in the team', so you've got to stake your claim and make sure you're in the side."
Linwood was also upbeat about the Mariners league survival chances: "We're unbeaten in our last three in the league with three draws and when you're in our position every point is a good one. We just need to turn some of the points into wins and we've got two good games coming up when we can do that.
"Whatever you're good at you've got to bring to the team and that's what I'll carry on doing."
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