Grimsby pile pressure on Burley

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

George Burley's European heroes were brought down to earth with a bump at Blundell Park last night as struggling Grimsby cruised to only their second win of the season.

Ipswich were paired with Slovan Liberec in yesterday's Uefa Cup second round draw, but two goals from Steve Kabba and a penalty from Alan Pouton underlined the way their First Division campaign is going seriously awry.

Burley's side showed all the signs of a team playing their third game in the space of six days and many more performances like this could see them becoming embroiled in their second relegation battle in as many seasons.

After a bright start from Ipswich, Grimsby scored from their first meaningful attack of the game in the eighth minute. Kabba, left free to latch onto a Darren Mansaram pass, placed an assured right-footed strike beyond Andy Marshall.

Previously, the Mariners had only scored once at home all season but, remarkably, they got their second of the night in the 18th minute. Kabba was heavily involved again, going down under a challenge from Wayne Brown, and Pouton converted the resultant spot-kick.

Tommy Miller wasted a decent opportunity as half-time approached and was replaced by Darren Ambrose at the interval, but the visitors failed to build up any sustained pressure on the Grimsby back line.

The home side effectively ended the match as a contest in the 61st minute. George Santos found space down the left and Kabba showed great awareness to crisply convert his cross.

Grimsby Town (4-4-2): Coyne; Ward (Coldicott, 84), Ford, Raven, Barnard; Cooke, Pouton, Santos, Campbell; Kabba (Robinson, 73), Mansaram (Livingstone, 63). Substitutes not used: Allaway (gk), Rowan.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Marshall; Makin, McGreal, Brown, Clapham; George, Holland, T Miller (Ambrose, h-t), Wright; Couñago (Armstrong, 72), M Bent. Substitutes not used: Pullen (gk), Gaardsoe, Westlake.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire) .