Head-butt madness could be final nail in the coffin
STEFAN Payne was sent off for a head-butt on his own team-mate as Grimsby Town’s survival hopes took a massive blow with a 1-0 defeat at Bradford City.
The striker saw red for his moment of madness after clashing with Filipe Morais at the stroke of half-time, leaving his team-mates to try and fight for a point after Anthony O’Connor’s opener, but they couldn’t find it despite their best efforts.
Just hours after a new era was signalled for the Mariners, Paul Hurst also rung in the changes as he named his side to take on the Bantams.
Filipe Morais returned from injury to face his old side, while Giles Coke and George Williams were also named in the starting lineup as Luke Waterfall, Harry Clifton and Lenell John-Lewis dropped to the bench.
There were a few very familiar names in the opposition’s side as well, with former Mariners Billy Clarke and Andy Cook both starting, while Charles Vernam was named as a substitute – there was no place in the squad for ex-Town academy prospect Rumarn Burrell though.
A sedate opening to the game Bradford spending more time in the Mariners’ half without creating any opportunities, while the visitors had a penalty appeal turned down after Williams claimed to have been tripped as he charged his way into the box to latch onto Payne’s ball from the right.
The visitors grew more into the game after 20 minutes though, and went close to taking the lead as Coke latched onto Williams’ corner from the left, but couldn’t quite time his header as he sent his effort over the bar. A sedate first half threatened to spring into life as both sides created chances with the break approaching, but Payne’s attempted header from Luke Hendrie’s cross saw the ball come off his shoulder, while Gareth Evans’ effort from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by James McKeown.
Just before the break, the hosts dealt a big blow to Town’s hopes as O’Connor turned the ball home after a deflected cross from the left – but things were about to get even tougher for the Mariners.
As the referee blew for half-time, Morais berated Payne for not chasing the ball down the flank, and in response, the former Tranmere man completely lost his head as he directed a head-butt to his team-mate. Despite Town’s best efforts to get him off the pitch without any punishment, he was never going to escape the referee as James Bell followed him into the dressing room to deliver the red card as Town’s task was delivered a hammer blow.
Hurst did his best to try and give his side a chance as he rung the changes to try and cover with a man down, but it was always going to be an uphill challenge.
The hosts went closest to adding to their lead as Connor Wood struck the bar when one-on-one with McKeown, although the Mariners fought hard to try and rescue something from the game.
In the end though, it proved a bridge too far, and their survival hopes could well have been dealt a fatal blow by Payne’s idiocy.