Crash and Burns

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 27/11/2025

I WONDER how many millions of Sky viewers will have seen that Grimsby v Tranmere is on tonight and were licking their lips at the prospect.

Well we are, and it's handy for both Town and Tranmere fans who would have had a difficult journey for this Thursday night match-up. Every game is important, well maybe not the Vertu Trophy, but we really do need a win to reassert ourselves at the top of League Two. Although our performance at Swindon last Saturday wasn't flawless, Town's players showed a lot of energy and purpose. This is what we need to see again. Our opponents Tranmere have had a mixed season and accordingly sit in lower mid-table. It was hard to tell what they were going to bring to Blundell Park this evening.

Town's starting side was: Pym - Rodgers, Warren, McJannet, Staunton - Burns, Walker, Turi, Khouri, Vernam - Rose. Before kick-off, tribute was paid to Town's manager of the late 1970s John Newman. He was a great manager in charge of a good, developing team. Hopefully, we'll be saying the same about Mr Artell and the current crop of players. 5,565 spectators were at Blundell Park tonight.

The first chance of the game after a nondescript start fell to Tranmere, wearing sky blue with pink armpits, on 3 minutes when Jennings headed wide from a Norman cross. A Walker pass two minutes later started a Town move, which ended when Rodgers was beaten to a Staunton cross, suffering a facial injury in the process. Town had a better chance when Burns screwed the ball wide after a poor punch by Murphy. In what were the best conditions we've played in during recent games, neither side was exerting control. Town however were looking to get in their stride. Walker went close on 13 minutes. As it started to rain, Town put together a nice move but Vernam's cross was aimless. On 19 minutes in what looked like an innocuous attack, Whitaker picked the ball up on the left before cutting inside Vernam-style and guiding a low shot to Pym's left. Town 0, Tranmere 1. Moments later Tranmere attacked. Warren's heavy tackle on Blacker gave Tranmere a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. Fortunately Whitaker's free kick was blocked. Burns then did well to send Vernam away but Vernam seemed to take the wrong option by cutting outside and depriving himself of space. Tranmere now looked the more composed of the two sides, having been buoyed by the goal. Town's play was scrappy. On 29 minutes Town won a free kick after McJannet was tripped in the Tranmere half. After a lot of passes, Town won the game's first corner but Vernam's shot from range was weak and the opportunity was wasted. On 39 minutes, Staunton, who was performing better than Vernam tonight, put in a good low cross but there was no-one to meet it. Tranmere weren't posing any threat but the quality of Town's play was disappointing. Town looked to be lacking in energy and found themselves being closed down time after time after going round in circles, when they weren't misplacing passes. In a game of poor quality, Tranmere weren't posing any threat but were managing the game better. The clock ticked down with nothing happening and Town went in at half time a goal down. After such pass-hostile dire fare from Town, it surely couldn't carry on like this.

The signs weren't good when Town started the second half with patient passing, allowing Tranmere plenty of time to find their positions. It was clear that they were aware of the threat from Vernam who managed another underhit shot on 50 minutes. Burns, who was by far Town's liveliest player, was pulled down in the corner, earning a freekick and a yellow card for Brough. On 55 minutes, a Patrick shot was deflected into the net by Ironside but the goal was disallowed for offside. To the home crowd's frustration, Town's build-up was patient as if they were winning. Joseph dispossessed Vernam who was completely ineffective so far tonight. An hour had passed with not a single clear chance for Town in the game so far. Town were slow and ponderous. What instructions had they been given? On 63 minutes Burns sent in an excellent looping cross for Vernam to run onto. Vernam made contact but Tranmere's keeper saved with his legs. From the corner Walker slammed a low shot which the unsighted Murphy did well to save before a Tranmere defender scrambled the ball clear from the awaiting Warren. Finally Town started to play. On 65 minutes Kabia replaced Warren. Town immediately set up an attack. The advancing Vernam supplied Walker. The ball fell to Burns who from the right cut and struck a low shot off the inside of the post. Town 1, Tranmere 1. Town had suddenly woken up and were playing with confidence. McJannet then pressed forward after retrieving an error and was fouled by Jennings who received a yellow card. A long cross from Rodgers earned Town a corner on 75 minutes. The defence struggled as Kabia struck but a defender got in the way and offside was given. Burns was in the action again on 77 minutes, receiving a cross from Vernam and from close range hitting the post with a helping hand from Murphy. Tranmere made a raft of substitutions with 80 minutes gone. Kabia was hacked down on 82 minutes to win a freekick for Town in the Tranmere half. Staunton's cross was cleared but Vernam's shot was wide and wild. Walker had a better effort with a snap shot on 85 minutes. Amaluzor and Oduor replaced Rose and Walker immediately after. A sublime ball from Burns found Kabia but the cross was too heavy as Town continued to press. Tranmere hadn't had a look in. Another good build-up from Town saw Kabia receive the ball outside the box but Kabia's shot blazed over. More composure was needed. 6 minutes were added. Tranmere had a rare attack and won a corner. Luckily, Harris missed the ball from close range or Town would have been in trouble. Burns - who else - then sent in a dangerous cross. Murphy just reached it ahead of Kabia. The game was coming to a close when Tranmere set up an attack on the right. Joseph crossed. The ball evaded McJannet and bounced off the thigh of Burns into the path of Dennis who had the simple task of knocking the ball in. There was no time to recover. It was the final act. Grimsby Town 1, Tranmere Rovers 2.

Questions have to be asked about the first half performance and Town's lack of energy. It defies comprehension that we should burst into life after such an abject display. We wasted the whole of the first half and put ourselves on the back foot. We had Darragh Burns to thank for keeping us in the game. We could argue we were unlucky to lose after dominating the second half but as our own Head Coach has kept telling us, we have to be more ruthless. We made ourselves vulnerable. But it's more than that. Promotion is slipping away. We plunge into the depths of poor quality, such is the lack of consistency and the team's mentality across games. Burns may have been impressive as our man of the match, but as a team we crashed tonight.

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