Grimsby Hoodoo Vanquished Monday, 1st Nov 1999 16:23 Town finally overcame Grimsby Town in the League for the first time since 1959. Town have had an uncanny knack of allowing the Lincolnshire side get the better of them in recent years with only a 4-0 home victory in the FA Cup in 1993 an exception. However, Saturday was a completely different story with Town completely rampant. The Blues lined-up with David Johnson alongside Richard Naylor as the Jamaican/Englishman/Welsh/Scot had recovered sufficiently from his thigh injury and James Scowcroft had picked up a knee injury in training. Also into the side came Jermaine Wright for the suspended Jim Magilton. Town dominated from start to finish with only another excellent goalkeeping performance from Grimsby's Danny Coyne preventing Town from getting a hatful. Town took the lead after 36 minutes when Jamie Clapham neatly shot home after a short corner routine with Mickey Stockwell. Grimsby were showing little of quality and Richard Wright had one of his quietest afternoons for some while. It was no surprise when Town added a second through Richard Naylor on the hour. The Town number 12, again looking like a player George Burley can't leave out, swooped onto a ball mis-cleared by a defender and slotted home off the post. The game was now dead with Grimsby looking much less of a side than they had earlier in the month at Blundell Park and Town seeming like they have found the form that had deserted them after the excellent start to the season. Men of the day were Richard Naylor, Jermaine Wright and Mickey Stockwell. Naylor has really looked the part this season and must have won a place in the starting line-up. Wright came in and sprayed the passes about. He has the opportunity to win his place with Jim Magilton out for three games. Mickey Stockwell had another impressive game, showing that there are a couple of seasons left in him still. Huddersfield Tuesday and Town will go into the game with great confidence that another victory can be won. R Wright 7 Almost nothing to do Wilnis 7 Good crossing (Croft 81) McGreal 7 Nearly scored Mowbray 8 As good as ever Venus 7 Got forward well Clapham 8 Lovely goal Holland 8 Captain's performance J Wright 9 Looked very classy indeed Stockwell 8 What a man Johnson 7 Didn't look fully fit (Axeldal 81) Naylor 9 Another fine perfomance Town are waiting on James Scowcroft's fitness for tomorrow's game at the McAlpine Stadium. Manager George Burley said "James felt a twinge to the side of his knee on Thursday. He rested on Friday and had a fitness test on Saturday, when it was clear he wasn't quite right."
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