Click here for full match stats
Veteran striker Steve Claridge kept Millwall on course for a play-off place
with a brace in a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Grimsby at Blundell Park.
Claridge, whose double earned his side a 2-0 victory when the teams met at The
New Den in August, pounced from close range two minutes before half-time after
Dennis Wise had seen his shot parried by goalkeeper Danny Coyne.
It was his fourth goal in as many games - and 10th of the season - and it
arrived just five minutes after Republic of Ireland international Steven Reid
hit the Mariners' woodwork.
Claridge, himself, crashed a second-half shot against the frame of the goal as
Millwall dominated the second half.
But he sealed the points for the visitors eight minutes from time when he
converted a penalty after Reid had been fouled by Grimsby defender John
McDermott.
It was a totally different story in the first half when Lions goalkeeper Tony
Warner pulled off a string of fine saves to deny Grimsby a deserved lead.
The Mariners, unbeaten in their last four league games, nearly made the best
possible start.
Player-manager Paul Groves, making his 425th appearance for the club to put
him fourth in the all-time list, steered a header on target but Warner tipped
the ball over.
A minute later Simon Ford, back in the side after being rested for the 4-0 FA
Cup third-round replay defeat at Burnley in midweek, unleashed a shot which
Warner also saved.
Millwall, who scraped past Third Division Cambridge via an FA Cup replay, just
could not get going and Town's Stuart Campbell fired wide as the hosts continued
to press.
Warner needed to be on his toes again in the 13th minute when Campbell drilled
in another shot and from a free-kick, Darren Barnard was this time thwarted by
the former Liverpool stopper.
It took Millwall, seven points off the play-off zone, 20 minutes to register
their first attempt at goal, Claridge seeing his effort comfortably saved by
Coyne.
However, Millwall were unlucky not to take the lead seven minutes before the
break.
Reid unleashed a fine shot from 25 yards which crashed against the woodwork
before Claridge edged his side ahead.
Grimsby had a let-off 20 minutes from time when Claridge saw his speculative
shot rebound of the woodwork.
But he did add his second from the spot to leave Grimsby one place and point
above the drop zone.
Teams:
Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Chettle, Ford, Gallimore,
Cooke (Mansaram 71), Groves, Campbell, Barnard, Livingstone,
Boulding (Soames 71).
Subs Not Used: Allaway, Ward, Bolder.
Booked: Campbell.
Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Robinson, Ward, Ryan (Bull 62),
Ifill, Livermore, Wise, Reid, Claridge, Braniff (Baltacha 74).
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Sweeney, Hearn.
Goals: Claridge 43, 84 pen.
Att: 4,993
Ref: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).
 E-mail Article  Print-Friendly
 Subscribe to RSS Feed
 Post to del.icio.us
 Facebook
|
