PREVIEW: Grimsby Town v Coventry City - Sky Blues travel to Blundell Park this Saturday

11 August 2017

Venue: Blundell Park

Competition: Sky Bet League Two

Date: Saturday, August 12th

Kick-off: 3pm

The Sky Blues will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Blackburn Rovers as the league season continues against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.

The Mariners started their SkyBet League Two campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Gary Caldwell’s Chesterfield at the Proact last weekend.

Goals from former Sky Blues defender Nathan Clarke, Sam Jones and a spot-kick from Ben Davies sealed the win for Russell Slade’s experienced side against one of the early promotion favourites.

Zak Mills was however dismissed late on for a kick out at Krystian Dennis so will miss Saturday’s clash, likely to be replaced by Scotland International Paul Dixon.

The Opponents

Slade brought with him to Blundell Park defender Nathan Clarke who featured 18 times during last season’s campaign. Partnering him at the back are fellow experienced heads: Danny Collins and Ben Davies, who share nearly 1000 league appearances between them, with Collins playing over 100 games in the Premier League for Stoke City and Sunderland.

In attack for the Mariners, and finding the net last time out, is former Gateshead striker Sam Jones. The 25-year-old has made a stunning rise up the pyramid in recent years after notching double figures three seasons in a row in non-league, often from attacking midfield.

Alongside him up-front will likely be former Aberdeen striker Scott Vernon who enjoyed a successful League Two campaign with the Lincolnshire club last season. The tall striker brings with him a very different threat to Jones and could be one to watch on Saturday.

Memorable Meetings

Coventry have not made the trip to Blundell Park for 14 years, when Sky Blue fans left the happier after a late penalty from John Eustace sealed a 2-0 victory after a Simon Ford own-goal opened the scoring.

When the sides met at Highfield Road that season, fans were treated to a thriller. Goals from Steve Kabba and Alan Poulton were not enough to stop the Shrimpers from leaving the Midlands empty handed thanks to strikes from Jay Bothroyd, Lee Mills and a young Gary McSheffrey in front of 12,500 fans.

Last Four Meetings

Grimsby Town 0-2 Coventry City – Championship – Saturday 1^st March 2003

Coventry City 3-2 Grimsby Town – Championship – Saturday 14^th September 2002

Grimsby Town 0-1 Coventry City – Championship – Wednesday 26^th December 2001

Coventry City 0-1 Grimsby Town – Championship – Saturday 8 September 2001

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Grimsby Town 0-2 Coventry City - Sky Blues make it back-to-back wins in League Two at Blundell Park

Marc McNulty and Jack Grimmer on target as the Sky Blues claim three points...

12 August 2017

The Sky Blues made it two wins in two thanks to goals from Marc McNulty and Jack Grimmer as City claim a 2-0 victory over Grimsby Town at Blundell Park...

McNulty gave Coventry the lead in controversial fashion just after the hour mark before Grimmer’s bullet header capped off the performance with fifteen minutes to go.

Tony Andreu was given his debut late on as City climbed to the top of the table in SkyBet League Two.

The Sky Blues started the afternoon the stronger but during the early periods neither side were able to find a way in behind the defences.

Grimsby’s Sam Jones was presented with the game’s first clear cut chance after 16 minutes. A twisting run from Sikiri Dembele sliced the City midfield in half and allowed Jones space in area but his placed effort rolled wide of the far post.

McNulty was confident enough to try a few speculative efforts from distance, on one occasion reacting first to a Jodi Jones free-kick that came back off the wall but the Scottish striker’s dipping volley could only fall wide.

Jones would soon force a strong save from Mariners keeper James McKeown cutting inside on his left and firing low to the keeper right. McNulty was unlucky not to be first to the rebound.

The second period started not too dissimilar to the first. Jones again was causing Grimsby problems, unleashing a powerful effort that McKeown had to acrobatically force over the bar.

The Sky Blues were growing into the half. McNulty skipped a number of challenges brilliantly on the edge of the area before finding Peter Vincenti on the penalty spot but he could not get his shot away.

Jones, who joined the Mariners in January, appeared to be the home sides biggest threat and came close on the stroke of the hour, but the 25-year-old blazed his effort just over the bar.

The Sky Blues would take the lead a few moments later in controversial style. Some confusion amongst the Grimsby defence saw a free-kick mid-way inside their half passed straight to McNulty, who with only the keeper to beat rounded McKeown and slotted the ball into the empty net.

It would not be long until the visitors doubled their lead. A well worked set piece from the corner found the head of Jack Grimmer who charged in to arrow his header just inside the far post. McKeown did manage to get a strong hand on the effort but was not able to claw it away.

The last action of the game came with five minutes to go, when James Berrett was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a late challenge of Liam Kelly.

The Sky Blues go top of the league.

Yellow: Dixon, Berrett, Jones.

Red: Barrett.

Attendance: 6,767 (1,357)

Teams:

Grimsby Town XI: McKeown (GK), Davies, Dixon, Clarke (C), Collins, Berrett, Rose, Jones, Summerfield (Jaiyesimi 71'), Cardwell (Hooper 67'), Dembele (Bolarinwa 82').

Grimsby Town Subs: Killip (GK), McAllister, Osborne, Keeble.

Coventry City XI: O'Brien (GK), Grimmer, Willis (Hyam 72'), McDonald, Stokes, Kelly, Doyle (C), Jones (Nazon 87'), McNulty, Vincenti, Beavon (Andreu 79').

Coventry City Subs: Charles-Cook (GK), Pearson, Stevenson, Biamou.

Standings