Candy From a Baby

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 09/12/2020

GRIMSBY surrendered to Newport with barely a whimper as the Welsh side brushed Town aside 2-0 at Blundell Park, barely needing second gear. Town surrendered their customary early goal, this time from a deflected free-kick, and Amond added a penalty before half time.

Newport could probably have scored more had they desired but concentrated on the clean sheet in the second half, and Town's toothless attack barely mustered anything worthy of name beside a Windsor free kick that hit the bar.

Ian Holloway made four changes James McKeown dropped for in favour of 38-year-old goalkeeping coach Sam Russell. Harry Clifton, Terry Taylor and Montel Gibson were all rotated in in place of Danny Preston, Sean Scannell and Owen Windsor, although Preston and Scannell were both injured.

Town gave away a succession of free-kicks in the first half and Joss Labadie hit the post from one in the opening minute. 20 minutes later Twine scored from a deflected effort with Russell wrong-footed. Russell had then to save two similar free kicks as Grimsby kept conceding in dangerous positions to give Newport shooting practice.

Just before the break Rose made a reckless and needless challenge in the box and the ref had no choice but to point to the spot. Amond scored his inevitable goal against his former club.

With the game won, Newport didn't trouble Grimsby much in the second half. Windsor was unlucky to hit the bar with a stunning free-kick and the only other effort of note was a shot from Clifton which stung the 'keepers hand.

Town were beaten at a canter although Holloway speaking after the match said he was impressed by the performance. Holloway appears to be in denial about how bad his team are, and how to turn things around. Relegation looks a distinct possibility with Holloway intent on playing in a way that the players he has brought in are not capable of and the prospect of plugging the (large) gaps in the January window looks very slim. If Holloway is unwilling or unable to change the style of play then it looks only a matter of time before a managerial change is needed.

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