Huff and Puff

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 31/10/2020

TOOTHLESS Town once again failed to find the target in 90 minutes, although they managed to gain a point in a 0-0 draw with Stevenage. It follows the midweek defeat to Forest Green when the goal-shy Mariners barely created a chance all game.

Town once again had lots of possession against Borough, but little of it in the final third, and it was the home side who had by far the better chances during the game.

Kyle Bennett, Danny Rose and Matt Green all came into the side as boss Ian Holloway tried to address Town's lack of a cutting edge.

McKeown was called upon to make a reaction save in the first minute when Dinanga's header from a cross from the right-hand side almost gave the hosts the lead. McKeown was then needed to make another save from the dangerous Akinwande with 10 mins on the clock.

Town's first effort of note came when a Luke Hendry cross picked out the unmarked Tilley, who tried to direct a header goalwards but failed to get the power or direction.

That was Tilley's last act as he shortly went off after a clash of heads. Grimsby have had several first-half injuries this season which disrupt the game plan and have Town have often struggled following an enforced change.

With both sides struggling to create anything the game looked like it was heading to a 0-0 draw but in the last minute of injury time Bennett gave the ball away in midfield and Dinanga's shot fortunately for Town rebounded off the base of the post.

Town survived a couple of scares at the beginning of the second half, but Hanson's introduction on the hour mark gave Town a target to aim at and the big striker forced a save out of the Stevenage 'keeper with a header from a set-piece.

A mistake by Stevenage let in Gomis who almost produced a handling error from the 'keeper when he spilt the ball but it went out for a corner.

McKeown was needed in the final stages, including a fingertip save from Oteh, to keep Town in the game as Stevenage ended the stronger side.

Although it was Town's first-ever point at Stevenage, and the clean sheet was a positive, the lack of creativity was once more a big concern. Town don't look like scoring from open play, and their set-pieces are often poor, not a good combination.

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