Grim Win

Last updated : 15 August 2007 By Austin Greenwood
Andy Gray - scored the equaliser after being set up by Robbie Blake
After a hazardous drive over to sunny Cleethorpes, we were greeted with the news that, as predicted, Steve Cotterill had wrung the changes, with no fewer than 9 alterations to the 11 who lined up against the Baggies. The selections didn't fill me with confidence, but at least, I thought, the "reserves" might surprise me in their attempts to fight their way back into Cotterill's first choice XI.

The first half was a fairly lifeless affair with neither side offering much in the way of excitement. The Burnley fans were treated to a show of long-ball football, with debutant Unsworth regularly seeking out Kyle Lafferty who had lined up on the right hand side of what appeared to be a 4-5-1 formation. The only incident of note came somewhere around the 15 minute mark when Mahon temporarily found himself on the right hand side of the penalty area and curled the ball wide with his favoured left peg. There was to be a further effort from either side before half time, with Till forcing Jensen into a routine save and then Foster hitting a powerful long range effort which forced Barnes into a save low to his right.

The only real positive to take from the first half was the manner in which Unsworth had started his Burnley career. Easily the stockiest player on the pitch, he'd dealt with most things comfortably and perhaps provided the most entertaining moment of the half when he stood firm when faced with Rankin running the ball at him. He barely flinched as Rankin bounced off him and Burnley had possession back.

Hopes of seeing Berisha in the place of one of the ineffective wingers were dampened as Burnley emerged from the dressing rooms unchanged. Burnley briefly seemed to have lifted their game as Akinbiyi, who'd had little service in the first half, did well to turn the centre half on the right side of the penalty area and flash a cross across the 6 yard box, which just aluded Lafferty. However, rather than signal a period of dominance, that passage of play seemed to spur Grimsby into action.

First a series of corners were won, but squandered by the home side, before midfielder Bolland hit a shot just over the bar after being gifted possession by O'Connor. Ciaran Toner subsequently hit a great shot from the left side of the box, which crashed off the far post and ran away to safety. That led to a change from Burnley, with Gray and Blake replacing the unfortunate Akinbiyi and Lafferty. Thankfully, with the side now set up in a 4-4-2 formation, we were treated to a spell of attacking football from the Clarets, with the long ball abandoned.

Andy Gray's first contribution was to pick himself up off the pitch after being floored by Grimsby stopper Phil Barnes, who'd charged 25 yards off his goal line to try and stop the Burnley striker on the left wing. The Burnley fans called for his dismissal, but the position of the offence saw the keeper receive just a yellow card. The resulting free kick was played short to Mahon who unleashed a dipping shot which Barnes tipped over for a corner. Foster then went close with a header from a corner, before Barnes smothered at the feet of Gray who'd latched onto a through ball from Blake.

Having not taken advantage of our best spell of the game, Grimsby upped their performance once again and it was only Brian Jensen who prevented them snatching a late winner. His feet denied Danny Boshell when one-on-one, he parried a long-range effort from Toner and finally he made a great save low to his left when Danny North, finding himself with time in the box, had the entire goal to aim at in the last minute. Grimsby's positivity and pace had caused all sorts of problems for a visibly tired Burnley side and our players were probably happy to hear the full-time whistle and have a brief rest on the touchline.

Extra time began with a change to the personnel, with Harley replacing Unsworth, but no change in the pattern of play which had been established at the end of normal time. Grimsby continued to take the game to the Clarets and it was no surprise when they deservedly took the lead. A long ball caught us out, with North rounding Jensen and slotting the ball into an empty net. I was a long way from the action and, with distances difficult to judge, it was hard to ascertain where the fault lay. The goal didn't immediately spur us into action and Grimsby went close again when Jensen was forced to tip a curling effort from North onto the bar.

To our relief, Burnley had enough in the tank to claw themselves back into the game in the second half of extra time. A now tired Grimsby side were undone by some slick passing which resulted in Blake providing Gray with a great chance to equalise and he did just that by slotting the ball low past Barnes. The Clarets now had the impetus and a good cross from the left hand side by Harley was hammered over from close range by the on-rushing Jones. I'm sure to the relief of Jones, the linesman had raised his flag for offside. That was the last action of the game and we were onto penalties. Thankfully, a series of well-taken penalties and a good save from Jensen saw us win the shoot-out 4-2 and advance into the next round.

Coming away from the ground it was difficult to envisage that many of the 9 additions had done enough to convince Steve Cotterill that he'd been wrong to leave them out last Saturday. The pick of the Burnley players starting XI were Jensen and Unsworth, with Blake and Gray bringing some pleasure to the travelling fans following their introduction. I think most Burnley fans will concede that we'd been lucky and that Grimsby had been unfortunate to go out. All that said, with several Championship clubs going out to lower league opposition, we have to be pleased to be in the next round. Being seeded rules out a money spinning tie, so here's hoping for a home draw.