Pearson’s wary of Palmer’s ‘giant’ threat
EX-TEAM-MATE CAN WRECK TOWN’S HOPES
SHAUN Pearson has warned his Grimsby Town team-mates that they will need to be “aggressive in the air” to counter the threat of exMariners loan striker Ollie Palmer this afternoon. The 6ft 5in forward will line up for playoff, semi-final hosts Wrexham, having plundered 16 goals in 23 outings since joining the Welsh club during the January transfer window from League One outfit Wimbledon, where he had already netted eight times this term.
Centre-back Pearson was in the Town team that lost 1-0 to a Palmer debut goal for the Dragons in the league meeting between the two teams at the Racecourse Ground four months ago.
He was also a team-mate of the 14-and-ahalf stone target man at Blundell Park and saw him score eight times in 16 outings during the second half of the 2014-15 campaign for a squad that Pearson rates as the best he played in throughout his first six-year spell as a Town player.
It remains unclear whether Pearson will be pitched in against Palmer, having made way for the recalled Luke Waterfall during Monday night’s thrilling 2-1 play-off eliminator win at Notts County. But the 33-year-old Town defender knows whoever starts at the back today will have a vital job on their hands.
“It’s not just him - there’s (Paul) Mullin and (Jake) Hyde, as well, and they have so many different options, but he was very good for us,” Pearson pointed out.
“He scored a lot of goals and he’s done the same at Wrexham and you’ve got to be aggressive in the air because he’s obviously a big lad.
“You also have to try not to get too tight either because he’s clever with his body and they are strong on set-plays so we will have to stand up to that challenge.
“He scored at their place, but we limited them to only a few chances and their goalkeeper was the man of the match so, hopefully, we can do that again and keep him off the scoresheet this time.”
Pearson returned to North-East Lincolnshire last summer following four seasons at Wrexham, where he was part of the team that lost a play-off eliminator 1-0 at home to Eastleigh after extra-time in 2019.
Today’s hosts have now been marooned in non-League football for 14 years and, under the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are under immense pressure to secure promotion this term.
Taking all that into consideration, Pearson believes an early away goal would prove a psychological blow for an expectant home crowd and their team, saying: “Even before the money came along, it was a club that was trying to get promoted every season when I was there.
“It will be a cracking atmosphere but, without a doubt, there’s massive pressure on them. I imagine they’ve got probably the biggest budget ever in Conference football and, if we can go ahead and dampen their spirits early on, the fans might get a bit nervy and edgy and that can help us.
“If we can also replicate the Notts County performance and control the emotions, we will give ourselves the best opportunity.
“It’s pretty obvious that they are clear favourites - they have got home advantage and more rest than we have had after playing extra-time.
“I had four wonderful years there and I love the football club and loved playing for them, but I’ll be totally honest - I really hope we can get one over them.”
If Pearson is back on bench duty at his old stamping ground, though, he will be primed for action, pointing to team-mates Giles Coke and Mani Dieseruvwe as examples of how the play-offs can propel the most unlikeliest of heroes into the limelight.
“There are big moments to be had and big moments from people that you’re not necessarily expecting them to come from,” Pearson pointed out.
“Cokey has been out of the picture really but he came in and played a vital part at the end of Monday night’s game.
“Mani’s minutes have also been limited but he then scores what is, at the moment, our biggest goal of the season, so you just have to keep working hard and be prepared, because you just never know when it might be you that’s required.”