New Grimsby Town manager Paul Groves got off to a dream start in his first
game in charge as his struggling side recorded their first league win in 10
games.
The victory drags Grimsby out of the bottom three and heaps the pressure on
Pompey boss Graham Rix, whose side has now lost five of their last six games.
Two mistakes from Portsmouth's Japanese keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi allowed
Phil Jevons and Simon Ford to put the Mariners ahead within the space of three
minutes after Peter Crouch had put Pompey ahead, Jevons adding a late penalty to
wrap up the win.
Groves made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Coventry on Boxing Day in
Lennie Lawrence's last game in charge.
The new boss was paraded to the fans before the game but the crowd were
clearly unhappy with Lawrence's sacking and made their feelings known to the
Grimsby board.
It was Portsmouth who began the game on the front foot and they should have
been ahead when Crouch headed over the bar from close range.
The visitors began to stamp their authority on the match before finally going
ahead when Crouch headed under Danny Coyne from Jamie Vincent's cross.
But, just as the visitors were on top, 'keeper Kawaguchi handed Grimsby the
goals they badly needed.
First he dropped a Danny Butterfield cross into the path of Jevons who poked
home, before the keeper was left grasping at thin air to allow Simon Ford to
head Grimsby's second.
Chris Thompson should have wrapped up the points for Grimsby after the break
but scuffed his shot wide.
Crouch then headed straight at Coyne before referee Pearson turned down two
Grimsby claims for a penalty.
Wayne Burnett hit the bar as the home side pushed forward before Ben Chapman
was hauled down in the box by Robert Prosinecki for a clear penalty. Jevons
calmly converted from the spot to seal a much needed win.
Teams
Grimsby: Coyne, Ford, Groves, Neilson (Willems 90), Gallimore, Butterfield, Coldicott, Burnett, Chapman,
Christopher Thompson (Boulding 81), Jevons (Jeffrey 87).
Subs Not Used: Croudson, David Smith.
Booked: Jevons.
Goals: Jevons 40, Ford 44, Jevons 80 pen.
Portsmouth: Kawaguchi, Harper, Primus, Tiler,
Vincent (Hiley 67), Thogersen (Curtis 82), Prosinecki, Quashie, Crouch, Lovell (Vine 68), Pitt.
Subs Not Used: Tardif, Crowe.
Booked: Tiler.
Goals: Crouch 32.
Att: 5,217
Ref: R Pearson (Peterlee).
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