IT’S ANOTHER GRIM DAY FOR LUCKLESS LIM
INTERIM manager Anthony Limbrick heaped praise on rampant leaders Swindon after they swept aside his Grimsby Town side.
Goals from the division’s top scorer Eoin Doyle and Jerry Yates, inside the opening 25 minutes, put the Robins in full control at Blundell Park. Yates added his second and Swindon’s third shortly after half-time and there was no way back for the struggling home side.
Limbrick, who has taken charge of four games since the departure of Michael Jolley, said: “It certainly was a tough afternoon. Fair play to Swindon. They are an excellent side.
“We highlighted their strengths before the game and they really delivered them today. One goal came on the counter attack and they passed the ball well.
“Their midfield three probably dominated our midfield three.
“We had a game-plan, but we were unable to execute it. We were desperately unlucky with the first two goals. One was a deflection and one was a mistake by the keeper, where I think he slipped over. I was amazed that it went in.
“We found ourselves 2-0 down with two very unlucky goals. When the second one went in with the deflection, it was a case of how unlucky can you be?
“However, they were very good and they stopped us from playing. They were one of the better sides we have played this season.
“Credit to them. That’s their sixth win in a row and they thoroughly deserved it.
“I didn’t think we were great in the game. However, it would be nice for us to get one of those goals where it just goes in off a deflection or a mistake.”
Heading into the day on the back of a five-game winning streak, Swindon were handed the lead on 10 minutes when James McKeown slipped, allowing Doyle’s header to slip through his grasp and into the back of the net.
It was two midway through the first half, as Yates cut inside from the left and wrong-footed McKeown with a deflected strike.
Yates then produced a neat turn and finish to make it 3-0 six minutes after the break, leaving Grimsby with a mountain to climb. Grimsby’s Ahkeem Rose had a late shot blocked as they tried in vain to get back into the match.
Yates then put a late close-range effort wide, but the damage had already been done as the table-topping Robins continued their impressive run of form.
This result, coupled with Forest Green’s 2-0 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United, means Swindon are now three points clear at the top of the table – having taken 39 points from 20 games so far. Swindon manager Richie Wellens added: “We were actually lucky with the first two goals. Our best moves and our best opportunities, we didn’t manage to take.
“Conditions were difficult to deal with, particularly in the first half.
“In the second half, when we did turn it on, we looked a real threat.
“In the last 20 minutes, it was just about being professional and seeing the game out. We made good decisions all over the pitch
– starting with the goalkeeper.
“This is not an easy place to come. They haven’t got a manager, they got booed off at halftime and there wasn’t much of an atmosphere.
“We can use that to our favour a little bit, but I’ve been here before and it’s always a difficult place.
“Grimsby will start to pick up results again and they started the season really well.
“I’m really happy with the result. If you had offered me the 3-0 win before the game I would have 100 per cent snapped your hand off for it.”