City thankful Grimsby are shockingly bad!

With City's game at Darlington being called off, I took the trip to Grimsby's Blundell Park, and whilst most of the other results went against us, Grimsby never looked like reducing the gap that City now have over them.

When you go to a side that has not won since September 19th, you'd expect them to at least put in some effort to win the match, or at least try and have the odd ball played every now and then that they'd actually look where they were playing it, but not Grimsby Town!

This is the third time in about six weeks that I've seen Grimsby and every single time they have been sloppy, looked very dodgy at the back and very rarely looked like scoring. It's not even as though they have many difference makers. Damien McRory looked ok on the left wing, but Michael Leary in the middle of the park was one of the most pitiful excuses for a footballer that I've ever seen. He was the football equivalent of a stroke, limp, expressionless and unable to control his actions. Close control, good first touch, ability to pass to a player in the same colour shirt as him, all skills which Michael Leary lacks.

It's not even as if Grimsby occasionally put together decent moves. Their players make passes to areas of the pitch where no-one actually is, especially Colgan in goal. Infact, the ironic cheers from fans that greet any Colgan catch or save say it all really. He was at fault for the first goal as a tame shot from the edge of the area crept beyond him somehow.

The second Port Vale goal came on the stroke of half-time as numerous defenders had several chances to clear the ball but a lack of effort on their behalf saw a Port Vale striker drift in and blast it against a Grimsby defender to make ti 2-0. Grimsby did score a late penalty.

Desperation is clearly starting to settle in as Grimsby fans appear for handball at every available opportunity, even if the ball quite clearly hit a player's chest or head. Infact, at one point a defender quite clearly kicked it out and yet the crowd were appealing for handball. Cries by Grimsby fans came for many penalties, none of which looked certain.

As bad as City are, I can't picture this Grimsby side being capable of getting five more points than the Imps do in the remainder of the season, especially as City now have a game in hand over the Mariners, and will have two after next week's game. When you're talking about the only side who Darlington haven't lost to on the road, you can see automatically where their problems lay.

Looking at their next handful of games and you can't really see where their three plus month winless run will end. They face Bury on Saturday, a side who have been in excellent form recently, then a trip to Crewe, a side who, although not winning many, have stopped losing at home. Cheltenham then visit Blundell Park in a relegation six pointer.

It doesn't get any easier as they then travel to two teams with excellent home records, Rotherham and Aldershot.

City on the other hand have a home game against Accrington, whom City have beaten in all three games between the sides at Sincil Bank since Stanley came into the League. A tricky looking trip to Burton and then a journey down to the free-falling Barnet. Bradford at home will offer a difficult test a week before Dagenham visit Sincil Bank.

Other than the Grimsby Town result, it was a mixed game all around for City. Torquay went down 2-1 at Bournemouth, Cheltenham beat Dagenham, Macclesfield beat Crewe 4-1 and Hereford didn't play.

It now means that the Imps remain 22nd and will now not play against until a home match against Accrington Stanley on January 9th. Cheltenham are 21st, Hereford are 20th and Torquay are 19th on 25 points.

Interestingly, we could soon have a former League leader enter the relegation battle. Barnet went top during September but have been in freefall ever since, with only Grimsby and Darlington worse off in terms of long term form.