Holloway thought fans got full value from draw with Forest Green

Posted Sunday, February 02, 2020 by PA

Grimsby manager Ian Holloway felt that anyone who bought a ticket for the 2-2 draw with Forest Green got full value for their money.

Charles Vernam and Anthony Glennon were on target for the Mariners at Blundell Park, in response to a wonder goal from Odin Bailey and Jack Aitchison’s strike.

Further chances were few and far between in testing conditions but the quality of Bailey’s equaliser was worth the entrance fee alone, no matter which side fans were backing.

Holloway said: “Whoever has bought a ticket will be delighted with that performance and the game. They got their money’s worth with their goal – and I don’t know if I should say that.

“After our goal, I thought we lost our way a little bit in the first half. We forgot our main thing and that’s to get it from one side to the other and not through the middle.

“I had to clarify that to them at half-time. They struggled with the elements to get out and I didn’t think we made the most of that.

“But overall, if you had offered me four points out of these last six, after what happened at Crawley, then I would have snapped your hand off.

“With the performance, we took it up a level again from our other games.”

Forest Green head coach Mark Cooper was satisfied with his side’s performance.

He added: “We will take the point and move on. The boys left nobody in doubt that they are committed to the cause and I thought we probably could have won the game, on the chances.

“After the way things have panned out recently, it is difficult for the boys, they were a bit nervous and tentative and nobody wants to make a mistake.

“You end up being a little bit too safe and we invited a bit of pressure and conceded a goal.

“After that, once Odin scored that goal, we grew into being the better team and missed some really good chances in the first half. With a little bit more confidence, we take those and win the game.”

It took a little while for both sides to settle, but Vernam burst into life with his second goal in as many games, taking full advantage of a poor clearance to fire past Conrad Logan.

With the half-time break drawing closer, Bailey picked it up 30 yards out and produced a sensational strike, from 30 yards, to level the scores.

And five minutes after the restart, the away side got themselves in front when Aitchison arrived late in the box and placed the ball beneath James McKeown.

Grimsby hit back instantly, though, with Burnley loanee Glennon adding the finishing touch for his first professional goal.