Lawrence: Game Had Everything

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 12/09/2001

"You can't say we played well, but we did play with a lot of spirit. We let too many goals in and we contributed to our own downfall more tonight than in any other game. It's just one that you have to put to the back of your minds and say 'thank God we're in the hat'."

Lennie Lawrence giving his opinion on the cup tie with Sheffield United last night that the Mariners won on penalties after finishing 3-3 at full time.

"... If that doesn't bring the crowds back nothing will...."

Talking to the Grimsby Telegraph Lawrence continued: "It was a classic cup tie: error-strewn with mistakes and goals, a sending off, extra-time and penalties. You name it, it was in there. If that doesn't bring the crowds back nothing will."

On Uhlenbeek who was sent off for a second bookable offence late on he said: Uhlenbeek was sent off for a second bookable offence late on - though his first caution was a case of mistaken identity by Lancashire referee Tony Leake after a foul on Stuart Campbell by Bobby Ford.

"They looked hard done by for the sending off and I'm not sure he got the right one when he booked him. They looked hard done by full stop," admitted Lawrence.

"I don't criticise referees publicly but it left something to be desired. If I was a Sheffield United fan, player or the manager I'd be disappointed. It just sums up the way things are going for us at the moment. They got a goal with 10 men and it looked as if we were going to go out but we sneaked an equaliser with Brad."

Marlon Broomes who scored the first goal on his debut said: "It had everything. The fans would have been loving it, but I'm not sure about the two managers. We came back twice in the match and all credit to the lads. We stuck in and dug it out. Grovesy is a fantastic skipper and he kept the lads going and kept me on my toes, talking to me all the time."

"It's penalties, but somebody's got win, and we made it in the end. I had a feeling it would be one of those games. The lads have kept four clean sheets and I had a feeling there would be loads of goals."

Bradley Allen who scored the equalizer that sent the game into penalties said: "It was another excellent victory. My goal was deflection and somewhat fortuitous but for the effort we put in we deserved to take the game to extra-time."

"It's a gentle reminder from me to one or two people that I'm alive and kicking. I want to stay and be a part of things here and I've got 10 months left on my contract and I'd love to extend that. I'm experience enough to know that that only way to strengthen my bargaining position is by playing regularly and being in the manager's plans."

"... It's frightening the way things are happening for us at the moment..."

Danny Coyne "It's frightening the way things are happening for us at the moment. When it's going for you, it's going for you and long may it continue," he said.

"You get to the late stages of a game like that and I think everyone's just playing on nervous energy and it was tough, tough game. It was end-to-end stuff and probably the last thing we needed was to go to extra-time, but it's another great lift for us."

Referring to his antics on the goal line during the penalty shootout he said: "I was just trying to put them off and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's not easy taking a penalty because if the keeper goes the right way he's got a chance."

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