Four Four Toothless

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 30/09/2018

PRESSURE is mounting on Grimsby boss Michael Jolley after a sixth consecutive league defeat plunged Grimsby into the bottom two. Whereas most of Town's previous games have been against the stronger sides in the division, the latest defeat came at the hands of Morecambe who had previously failed to get a single point away from home.

Jolley reacted to the latest setbacks with a return to the 4-4-2 formation that many fans had been demanding. That saw on-loan Elliot Embleton start on the wing and Jordan Cook return from injury to partner Wes Thomas. Mitch Rose and Harry Clifton made way.

Town almost got off to a terrible start when Ajay Leitch-Smith found himself in a one-on-one with McKeown. Town's keeper held his ground well to make a good save to rescue his team. But Grimsby drew first blood when Embleton picked up the ball, ran at the Morecambe defence and sent a low shot past the 'keeper to end the goal drought

But Morecambe continued to have the better of play and McKeown was again called into action to make a good save from Tutte, and a few minutes later Tutte almost surprised McKeown but the Town 'keeper managed to get a hand to his sudden shot and it looped over the bar.

Town were desperately unlucky not to go two goals up when Embleton picked out Thomas with a great cross but the Town striker's shot come off the underside of the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

Morecambe then levelled when Oates made his way through Town's defence and slotted the ball past McKeown. It was similar to many other goals Grimsby have conceded this season. Morecambe were soon 2-1 up when the unmarked Oliver flicked in a Mandeville cross to turn the game around.

Morecambe passed the ball around with ease and ran out of the remainder of the game without Town seriously threatening their goal.

It was a poor performance with few positives (only Embleton comes to mind). The manager has tried various combinations of players this season but nothing has worked. The forwards cannot score, there is no width in the team, and the defence cannot keep clean sheets. It's a fatal combination when you cannot find the net and concede in large numbers, and makes it easy for the opposition to bide their time and pick you off at leisure. Whether another manager could do better with this group of players is open to question.

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