Grimsby's away day misery continued with a dreary predictability, as they tumbled to a 3-0 defeat against a lively Queens Park Rangers side at Loftus Road.
Rangers secured the points when Paul Furlong’s double just before half-time and full-time sandwiched Marc Bircham’s 84th-minute effort as the hosts seemingly had more intent on reaching automatic promotion than Nicky Law's Mariners were on avoiding the possibility of a drop to Division Three.
Last week, Law had spoken persuasively about the fact that ‘the result was more important than the performance’ as his side claimed a vital 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Blundell Park.
If the result was the only thing to matter back then, in the light of today's performance, Law might well be wondering where consolation lies now.
His side had claimed just 15 out of a possible 60 points on the road this season, a total only seemingly doomed Wycombe Wanderers have failed to surpass, and from the moment Rangers began to move the ball around and settle into a rhythm, it was a record they never appeared likely to improve.
Despite suffering from suspensions, with Martin Rowlands, who has so often been a major inventive force for them this year, ruled out, Holloway shuffled his pack as his side sought to break away from third-placed Bristol City and make the automatic spot their own.
Furlong opened the scoring for the home side just before the break, and despite a few nervous moments, there was never much doubting where the points were destined to go.
Bircham made sure of matters six minutes from time before Furlong struck to claim his second, two minutes later, leaving Rangers sitting pretty and Grimsby staring ever more over their shoulder.
Having come close to looking as good as up a few weeks ago, Rangers have made heavy weather of things over the course of the last month, and went into the game without a win in four matches.
Law will be looking closely at his squad between now and Monday's visit of Blackpool. Despite their dismal year, games remaining against fellow strugglers Stockport and Brentford could yet leave their fate in their own hands.