Who Said What - Post Match Reaction

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 17/10/2004

TOWN continued their unbeaten run but dropped two points at home. Bristol Rovers manager, Ian Atkins, claimed a moral victory but his claim was not supported by those who saw the game.

The Grimsby Telegraph summary said; It was honours even as Grimsby and Bristol Rovers wasted a hatful of chances to edge a victory in a goalless draw at Blundell Park.

While both sides created opportunities at will, only one save of any quality was forced in an evenly contested match-up.

Veteran wing-back John McDermott came close for Grimsby late on but in truth a draw was fair enough on both sides.

Town's manager Russell Slade said:

"It was a very tight game, somewhat frustrating from our point of view," Slade said."I thought we slightly nicked it in terms of the first period. I thought that they got on top a little bit in the second half and could have nicked it towards the end. Fortunately we've become a little bit more resilient and we didn't."

"It is important that we keep our little run going, and it might turn out that today it was a vital point against Bristol Rovers. If that's our mentality throughout the season I don't think that we will be far away."

"Our flair players perhaps didn't have one of their better days. Parky didn't get in it much, Stan didn't get in it much - these are the people that can win you football matches."

"I think that was two points dropped, because we were the better side by a mile." Ian Atkins said on the Bristol official site bristolrovers.co.uk "They had a couple of chances that flashed in front of goal in the first half and another one they put over the bar, but with the amount of chances we had, and the amount of play, especially in the second half, I think we can feel entitled to feel we should have won it."

"It's disappointing not to have the three points, but by the same token it is still a good point away from home."

"The players worked hard throughout the team, and we stopped a lot of their service going forward. I was very pleased with our performance, and I think the players were too."

According to Atkins, Dave Savage, Aaron Lescott and James Hunt, were too much for the Mariners.

"I thought all three played at such a high tempo in midfield that they didn't allow Grimsby to get into the game. They weren't able to hurt us really, and that's why today was disappointing and, in my opinion, two points dropped. But I do balance that by knowing we've got a draw away from home against a side who could be up there at the end of the season."

"I think it was probably as good an away performance as we've produced all season, possibly the best. If we had put one in today, that would have been it, game over, because we have the ability to shut teams out when we get a goal ahead."

But the fans who saw the game did not pull any punches!

JuniorFan said;

"I don't know where Atkins went. I went to Grimsby. We were awful. We will not finish anywhere near the top with performances like this. Grimsby won't either. Two poor teams struggling to score a goal. Junior played well as usual."

BIGChris appeared to agree with him saying;

"A bit dire really.

A draw was probably a fair result.We created very little with our best efforts coming from long range. Rovers created one clear chance but Williams pulled off an excellent save."

Our hoof and hope tactics didnt work well. They played reasonably deep so there was little space behind them for the ball over the top which we persisted in playing. When he did actually get the ball down and pass it we did, on occasions, look like a football team!

Thought Reddy (1st half), Sestanovich and Fleming were poor. Man of the match for me was Whittle who snubbed out the kids disco (Junior Agogo)

Generally defences on top and quite boring

The gatemen must have done well again. 4600? Yeah right!"

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