Grimsby Party Heads South

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 27/08/2001

GRIMSBY manager Lennie Lawrence travels South today on the anniversary of his first match in charge of Town with just left back Tony Gallimore in doubt for the clash with Pompey after a back problem.

"....The same eleven will have to do duty again..."

Lawrence indicated that Gallimore would be the only change for the starting line-up from that which drew 2-2 with Preston on Saturday. "It was a tiring game. I don't think Gallimore will make it, and Bradley Allen might be on the bench, but other than that it will be the same eleven." said the Town boss. Danny Butterfield, who moved from central midfield to a left back position on Saturday after Gallimore's injury is expected to continue on the left side of defence.

"There's no great soul-searching or decision making here, the same eleven will have to do duty again, unless Gally has made a miraculous recovery, but I would very much doubt it."

"....If we lose any more we are in deep, deep trouble..."

The Town boss spoke of his unease over the small size of the Grimsby squad which numbers just nineteen senior professionals: "We've lost one, we can cover for one, but if we lose any more we are in deep, deep trouble."

"....There are some assets out there..."

In a weekend in which two Scunthorpe United players have been linked with Grimsby, the Town manager is clearly unhappy about not being able to strengthen his squad - a constraint which has been imposed on him by Peter Furneaux's board. Lawrence, who has however got the possibility of bringing players in on loan, alluded that some new blood may be on its way, saying: "There are some assets out there, in both football and financial terms."

Speaking on his first year in charge of the Mariners, Lawrence said: "It was my anniversary on Friday night, and I watched the equivalent match when John Cockerill was in charge, so it is nice at the end of the first year to see we are moving forward in the right direction."

Grimsby Town: (from) Coyne, McDermott, Butterfield, Groves, Beharall, Pouton, Campbell, Willems, Jevons, Rowan, Jeffrey, Chapman, Ford, Burnett, Boulding, Ermes, Busscher.

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