Harsh Words From Lennie As Mariners Come Home!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 26/07/2001

THE MARINERS arrived back in England today from their tour in Scandinavia with Manager Lawrence talking of harsh words being spoken after the final game. The match with Koge BK finished in a draw after Alan Pouton scored from the penalty spot.

The Danish part-timers gave Town a hard game in a sweltering Copenhagen with temperatures soaring towards the 90-degree mark.

The Grimsby Telegraph reported that with striker Bradley Allen sent off for retaliating after he was struck in the face after 75 minutes but for some splendid saves from Danny Coyne, it could have been an embarrassing defeat for the Mariners.

Lawrence said he had experimented with a 4-3-1-2 system during the duration of the tour, but said, "We can't do it and I may as well find out here. It worked on occasions last year, but it's got to be 4-4-2. Although the game was a draw it flattered us. You hope after the first two games that we would be progressing and that was obviously a disappointing performance."

"We didn't get anything out of it at all. I learned a lot of things but most were negative. I've used this tour to get 17 players somewhere near match fitness. What I'm going to do now is look at the players who I think might start and make sure they're ready in the next two weeks, starting against St Mirren."

Phil Jevons played a delightful nutmeg to win yesterday's late penalty, which proved the highlight of his tour. "We've badly missed Steve Livingstone and when the ball goes up there it comes straight back," said Lawrence. Phil Jevons just lacks fitness full stop. He got us a goal out of nothing but that's it. I think he's been struggling for fitness. He needs Livvo alongside him just like everybody else. We've worked them quite hard and they've trained every day and had no days off."

"I think the players have conducted themselves very well on and off the field. It's been an excellent workout for us but unfortunately the last game was an anti-climax. Other than that it's been first class. "I speak as somebody who's done 17 or 18 pre-seasons and I know all the excuses - it was a hot day and the rest of it. "

"Danny Butterfield has played well and the keeper has been sound. John McDermott and Paul Groves as usual have been good and Jonny Rowan has played well."

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