David Artell hails ‘outstanding’ Grimsby win at Fleetwood

Grimsby head coach David Artell never felt his side’s game at Fleetwood was going to be a great spectacle after they made it back-to-back victories in Sky Bet League Two.

The Mariners sparked life back into their campaign by ending their nine-match winless run against Shrewsbury three days ago and Jaze Kabia’s late goal – his 10th of the season – ensured that was backed up with a 1-0 triumph at Highbury Stadium.

It was a contest in windy conditions that certainly won’t live long in the memory, but Grimsby now have the play-off places back in their sights, with them five points off the top seven.

Artell said: “I thought it was a terrific performance against the ball, I thought we limited a decent team.

“Their xG (expected goals) must have been extremely low because I can’t remember them having a meaningful shot.

“We’ve had a couple of big chances and we’ve took one, so a third clean sheet on the spin, the performance against the ball was outstanding.

“It wasn’t a day for pretty football with the conditions – the pitch is horrific. It was never going to be that kind of day.

“I thought first half we played the conditions brilliantly, sort of no-risk football which is not like us, but we asked them to do it because that pitch could have ‘bowled’ you – it was like Melbourne the other day, that one.

“We played sort of not like us in possession a bit, but we were competitive and an outstanding result to go with it.”

The closest Fleetwood came to scoring was after 65 minutes when Ched Evans met Ethan Ennis’ corner, but his effort hit the outside of a post.

It was in the 89th minute that Grimsby snatched the points when Darragh Burns’ cross picked out Kabia whose header flew into the top corner.

Fleetwood boss Pete Wild was left frustrated.

He said: “Both teams have done nothing in the whole game. The game was a non-entity, a rubbish game of football.

“The weather has not helped that, the weather has made it a rubbish game of football.

“You had two decent sides who want to try and play and they can’t because of the weather.

“It was really frustrating to lose the game because literally nothing has happened in the whole game for both sides.

“I’m disappointed with the free-kick that leads up to their goal – every time someone went near a Grimsby player, they threw themselves on the floor and got a free kick and another referee has been hoodwinked.

“The ball goes wide, we’ve been really good at defending crosses, but when you look at the backline, it’s very young, very inexperienced and it’s the only cross we haven’t defended in three games and it’s hurt us.”