Gas Mark Two

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 12/09/2026

AFTER Steve Cotterill's meltdown at Cheltenham last week, we encounter another Steve who manages today's opponents Bristol Rovers. Steve Evans is notorious for numerous episodes over the course of his managerial career, and has been sent off twice at Blundell Park in the past while managing Boston and Mansfield.

But this is a manager who knows how to get the best out of his team at this level. So it has proved with Bristol Rovers who he's raised from the depths last year to their current position at the top with both the best defensive and attacking record in the division. The Gas were clinical in their victory over us back in February while Town were overwhelmed.

While Rovers prosper, Town are still finding themselves out. The first half against Accrington and the second at Cheltenham showed great promise. Shelton and Cartwright were outstanding debutants in the last game, but it really seems to be about the players being in the right head space. Some of this is down to inexperience, but we have experienced players too. While the league season so far has been loss-free, we need to be turning draws into victories and in doing so we may stay in touch with the league leaders.

Head Coach Artell in his pre-match interview referred to the need for the players to be ready for the 1230 kick-off, undoubtedly thinking of occasions when we haven't been. The starting XI in question today was: Harrington - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney - Turi - Finch, Green, Shelton, Vernam - Cook. Rovers wore their familiar blue and white quarters. 6,945 spectators were here today, including 376 away supporters.

Town, facing the Osmond end, kicked off. Within a minute Rovers had a dangerous attack up the right, culminating in Rodgers having to head out for a corner. Turi won a free kick on 3 minutes after bursting forward. McJannet couldn't find his feet so a good move ended. Cook headed over a minute later after a skied clearance from Harbottle. Rovers had a spell of attacking. Mola struck a shot which was deflected for a corner. Rovers went close after the ball bounced back off Leigh's leg. Town moved up. Rodgers was fouled. Vernam delivered. Green ran onto the curling cross at the near post but headed over. Vernam's found himself with space on 14 minutes and struck a decent low shot which Young pushed away for a corner. Turi started an attack on 17 minutes, finding Vernam. Balmer cleared Vernam's cross for a corner. Vernam wasted the corner by firing into the side netting. The game was showing signs of going flat. Harrington cleared towards Cook who headed the ball on. Green won the challenge with Harbottle who strained to head the ball back to Young. Green was clear and from wide of the goal slotted the ball over the advancing Young. Town 1, Rovers 0 with 21 minutes gone. The game was stopped for an injury to the unfortunate Harbottle who had landed badly after his challenge. Cook won a free kick on 27 minutes after being clattered by Kelly. As the ball came in from Seeeney, Kacurri looked to be kicked by Kelly in the box. The referee saw nothing wrong. Shelton was tripped as Rovers racked up the fouls conceded. Vernam sent a good cross over from the left but Kacurri couldn't quite connect with it. Town were creating the better opportunities in what was largely a midfield scrap. Forde was booked for a foul on Sweeney in the corner after a deft back heel by Vernam. 37 minutes had gone. Vernam's free kick wasn't great but Purrington conceded a corner under pressure. Vernam's follow-up was also poor but the ball came out to Turi who controlled, advanced and shot from 25 yards. The ball flew into the top right corner. It was a brilliant strike from Turi. Town 2, Rovers 0. Town continued to press as Rovers floundered. Five minutes were added to the half. A dangerous run led to Shelton winning a corner. Vernam's curling cross this time was good, but eluded everyone. Rovers had an attack on 49 minutes. Sweeney did well to cut out a through ball. The half ended: Town 2, Rovers 0. Town deserved to be winning after creating all the best opportunities and stifling any Rovers threat. Rovers themselves were poor, specialising in fouls. It was to be expected that their performance would improve in the second half. Town had to maintain the press and intensity which they had shown in the first half.

Rovers made substitutions at half time. Kacurri got into a minor scrap with one of them, Harrison, on 47 minutes after committing a foul. Town had a corner on 50 minutes after a neat move involving Shelton, Vernam and Seeeney. Vernam's corner was poor before Turi ballooned his cross into the centre with the wind blowing the ball backwards. Cook battled and started another attack. Town were showing good intent, pressing forward and not being content to absorb pressure or allow Rovers into the game. Rovers won a free kick on 56 minutes but the wind took James's cross out of play. Rodgers won a corner for Town on 59 minutes after more good interplay. Vernam's dragged his subsequent shot wide. Harrington struggled with a cross in the windy conditions on 60 minutes. The threat ended when Vernam was fouled. Moments later Green and Balmer each received a yellow card for a scrap close to Rovers's box. On 65 minutes McJannet took the safe option after a misunderstanding with Harrington, conceding a corner. The delivery from the corner again failed to take account of the wind, as Rovers continued to be unimpressive. On 67 minutes Pruti replaced Rodgers. It wasn't thrilling stuff but Town were controlling the game. Vernam was booked for a clumsy check on Balmer. The ball came out from the free kick and was played up the left towards Finch. With Young committed, Finch crossed towards the open goal where Cook was waiting. But Cook couldn't get on the end if it and seemed to injure himself in the process. Morgan came on immediately, while Cartwright replaced Vernam. On 75 minutes an off-the-ball incident resulted in Leigh being given a red card. This was no great surprise as Rovers had been intent on foul play from the start. Town responded with an attack. Good work by McJannet saw Cartwright with the ball. From a little flick, Green received the ball and crossed for Turi to flick it in, but Turi seemed to take his eye off it. Harrington then made a mess of a cross at the other end but caught the ball second time around and started an attack. Sweeney and Morgan combined to win a corner. Along ball saw Morgan fight off Balmer before striking his shot wide of the post. On 87 minutes Reynolds and Doyle replaced Finch and Shelton. Town were now cruising. Rovers won a free kick on the left a minute later. Harrington gathered after almost being involved in a mix-up with McJannet. Five minutes were added. Turi won the ball back after Green lost it. Morgan wriggled and won a corner. Green had an effort which went out. Morgan received the ball in the corner. The game was being played out. The final score: Grimsby Town 2, Bristol Rovers 0.

Steve Evans was unusually quiet during the game today, confining himself to inexplicable unpleasantries with David Artell at the end, but his team did his fighting for him. Unfortunately, it was fighting of the wrong sort as the Gas seemed intent on fouling rather than playing. This was entirely down to Town who didn't allow Rovers to breathe. A good level of intensity and press was maintained throughout the game, and while it meant a scrap for much of it, Town impressively broke free of the shackles and played well. This was a thoroughly deserved victory.

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