Mariners’ gifts help the Robins stay top...

SWINDON boss

Richie Wellens praised his side’s second-half performance as two own goals helped the League Two leaders beat Grimsby.

Mariners keeper James McKeown and then Luke Hendrie both put into their own net to help Swindon to victory.

Jerry Yates had got their opener with a tap in after some stunning build-up play two minutes after half-time.

In the 49th minute it was 2-0 when Diallang Jaiyesimi’s header came back off the far post and hit McKeown and dropped into the net.

Hendrie kneed into his own net after 57 minutes when Lloyd Isgrove’s cross evaded Luke Waterfall, but rebounded off the Grimsby man and in to end the contest.

Wellens said:

“The first goal is brilliant skill by Diallang Jaiyesimi and it’s a brilliant, unselfish pull back from Eoin Doyle. The second is a great header from Jaiyesimi.

“We told Lloyd Isgrove at half-time that we weren’t getting enough crosses from him. He put it in the right area and it’s unfortunate for the lad who’s put it in his own net.

“The first half was a bit drab. In the second half we woke up. With the wind we’ve just got to play in the right areas, we’re just trying to play in the opposition’s half a lot more.

“If we get the ball into the final third into good position it takes the wind out of it.”

James Hanson nodded in a corner in the 59th minute to give the Mariners faint hope of a remarkable comeback.

Charles Vernam fired wide of the left post Max Wright had a shot blocked in the area, but Swindon, who had their own late chances with Michael Doughty and Admiral Muskwe both having shots well saved, saw the game out.

Grimsby boss Ian Holloway said: “It is a step forward for us. We lost 3-0 at home, now we have lost 3-1 away, but this was a much closer and much better performance from us.

“They deserve the three points. We have to believe in ourselves a lot more than we did after that goal went in. I was really looking forward to the second half and all of a sudden it went horribly wrong.

“We had a very, very good first half. It was an appalling start to the second half and that gave us a mountain to climb.”