A controversial goal gives Salford City a narrow win at Grimsby Town and fans clash after Chesterfield v Notts County.
The League Two playoff semi final 1st legs began with Grimsby 1-0 up after 26 seconds thanks to Reece Staunton’s long-range volley, but the Ammies hit back on the 4th minute, Kallum Cesay with the leveller.
Adebola Oluwo then made it 2-1 Salford just before half time, his header coming back off Grimsby defender Cameron McJannet, keeper Grimsby keeper Jackson Smith appeared to have his line of vision blocked by Haji Mnoga, who was in an offside position.
In the game after that, Jayden Luker from close range on 27 minutes, Ryan Boot unable to keep it out, giving Notts County a 1-0 advantage, after Lee Bonis had seen his penalty come back off the post 6 minutes in.
Grimsby boss David Artell speaking to Sky Sports:
“I’m not going to talk about the referee. I’ll let others decide, I’m not going to talk about the referee at all.
“We’ve all seen the second goal. If I tell you exactly what I think, I’ll be at Wembley tomorrow morning, it’s as simple as that.”
On their goal after 26 seconds: “It was a great finish, it was probably the one moment of real quality in the whole game.
“It was a tight game, two similar teams and I imagine the xG for both teams isn’t particularly high.
“It was attritional and we’ve come out on the wrong side by the odd goal but it’s half time.
“It’s all to play for.”
Salford boss Karl Robinson said to SCFC TV: “It’s half-time and we’re winning 1-0 really. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got to regroup, we’ve got to recover. We’ve got a big job to do now, and we’ll get ourselves ready for Friday.
“Everyone was excellent. A massive pitch with a real big output and they’ve all been good from Ade to the full-backs to the goalkeeper, I think they were all brilliant. Dan Udoh was a man possessed today and caused multiple problems and I’m really proud of him.
“We thank [the fans] for all of their support. The lads and girls who went to Crawley, and the ones that travelled across to Grimsby today, thank you, it means the absolute world to us. We’ll try and be our best. We really will.”
He also felt that at the time that Haji Mnoga, who stood offside inside the six-yard box, but referee Matt Corlett said he was not affecting play, despite angry protests from Grimsby, hadn’t been “interfering with the goalkeeper at the time of contact”, as per Salford Now‘s report.
After looking back at the controversial goal, Robinson said that the header made its way across the keeper into the bottom corner, “he interfered with the goalkeeper’s eye line.”
“If I were on the opposition bench, I think I’d be asking the question. Maybe we would have seen that disallowed in other games.”
Robinson told Sky Sports, as per BBC Sport’s live blog:
“When you think what happened and then to go behind – honestly I nearly clapped the goal by the way, what an unbelievable strike that was.
“I was just thinking what’s going on? The way my players responded, I thought they were very calm.
“There was a tremendous noise in the stadium today, it was electric.
“And for us to find peace of mind and calmness to our performance and to take the goal and get another one very quickly.
“It was a tremendous game, very frantic. A real honest performance by the two sets of teams.”
Chesterfield’s Paul Cook said, as per the club website: “We probably didn’t have the clear cut chances in the game, if the truth be known, but as I say it’s half time.
“You can see by the quality of the players on the pitch that it will go into the second leg for sure. We’re still very much alive in the tie, that’s for sure.
“We’re playing against very good opposition. You don’t get to this stage of the competition and meet any duck eggs. They’ve got a lot of good players. It took us probably until the second half to take control of the game – and I felt we did.
“There was a spell where we might go and create the chances to score, but it wasn’t to be. So, we look forward to the next leg now on Friday night and it’s all to play for.”
On the game playing out in a frantic nature: “I think we’ve had a season like that. Our fans have been absolutely amazing, no more so than today and every time we are in those (positive) positions, even at Swindon last week where we played ever so well in the first half, we concede.
“Today, the emotions in the game probably didn’t go our way, but I thought the lads stuck to the task really well. I thought they played some really good football in the second half, we tried our best to open up a very good team who were probably comfortable with their 1-0 lead, and I’m sure it will be a bit more open in the second leg, because we’ll certainly go there like that.”
On Armando Dobra: “It doesn’t look like it’s a good injury, looks like his shoulder. He was brave and he wanted to stay on so much because he absolutely loves playing football. I had to take that decision away from him because you could see from the way he was moving with his body that he wasn’t correct, so he’ll be a big miss for us, he’s a great player.
“That’s part and parcel of the game and, as I say, congratulations to Notts County and to Martin (Paterson) – they’re ahead at half time and we’ll see what next Friday brings.”
Notts County boss Martin Paterson said, as per Nottingham Post: “Absolutely not [tie is won]. You’d be an absolute fool to think that.
“We’re really respectful and we’ll work hard. We’re halfway, it’s two games, so it’s irrelevant how it looks right now. What matters is how it looks after the second leg.
“There are some positives, lots of them, that’ll be good to show the players.” He added: “I feel now how I did before the game. It’s a two-legged tie. It’s a strange feeling, it’s like being interviewed at half-time.
“I’m pleased with the players. [There was] lots of positives and it looked like we enjoyed it. That was the key for me, we looked like we enjoyed it.”
On those in the away end: “I liked to go over there to make sure we clap the supporters for coming across and supporting us, they have done all year,” he added.
“I’m not just saying it, they’ve been unbelievable for this group and this group have paid them back by playing for the badge. Half-way there. Tough, tough game coming up.”
Heres’ how fans reacted after a controversial goal gives Salford a narrow win at Grimsby, and fans clash after Chesterfield v Notts County…
ON GRIMSBY v SALFORD:
@scturner141: All to play for. We didn’t perform well today, pressure got to the players in second half when a goal needed. Decisions didn’t go for town either. Still in the game, was more worried about home game than away, as we play with more freedom away from BP. Nail biting Friday ahead!
@LunarCelica: Poor showing today but wasn’t helped at all by the ref and the lino, up and at them again on Friday still in this
@OliEatsPringles: Still think their second should’ve been given for offside. Frustrating 89 that followed – almost like we didn’t want it. But we go again, still all to play for 🖤🤍
@YTMWS_: Salford getting a dodgy goal?! Gary Neville sponsored by SKY BET super 6 getting a dodgy decision in the SKY BET play-offs? I joke, but a joke of a decision for there second goal, and to not send 17 off for 2 tactical fouls?! Only half time though… #gtfc
@JoshGrantham58: Always going to be difficult when the officials are star struck by Sky Sports Salford. All to play for on Friday, into ‘em town #GTFC
ON CHESTERFIELD v NOTTS COUNTY:
@JB413561: Best tactical performance from players and managers for 3 years. Proper 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #notts
@CheezyNCFC: Dobra hit his head, Chessie shit the bed, Notts pull off the smash and grab – You love to see it 💥
@arniebats: Superb. Defended as a unit, completely nullified them. Even when under the cosh, never felt like we were going to concede. Now to defend like that in the 2nd leg. 1st goal is crucial
@Danny40906984: Get in, what a dreadful ref that was ffs
@Ryannn_NCFC: Please do not park the bus Friday. Play as if we lost, fight to keep the advantage COME ON LADS 🖤🤍
@benthorpe178: Someone needs to tell Paul cook to calm down, he’ll give himself a heart attack. All to play for second leg, see you in Nottingham
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