'Three big points' - reaction as Chesterfield beat 10-man Grimsby Town and climb into play-offs

The Mariners, who were sixth in the table before kick-off, were reduced to 10-men on 53 minutes when goalkeeper Christy Pym was sent off for bringing down Lee Bonis and then just under 20 minutes later the visitors went in front when Dilan Markanday’s cross was turned into his own net by Harvey Rodgers.

The victory extends the Blues’ unbeaten run to eight in all competitions and they climb to sixth ahead of two more games against teams around them in Crewe and Swindon Town.

On the unbeaten run, first-team coach Gary Roberts said: “We don’t overly speak about it. It is a bit of a cliche but it is always about the next one. We know we are playing the teams around us now and they are big points them, they are big points for us today. We are quietly confident, we are on a decent run, we are going well. We are making small steps and we feel like we are progressing as a team.

“We felt like we have left points out there against Accrington and Tranmere so we feel like we should be up in and amongst it. Obviously we are not shouting from the rooftops about it but since the Colchester game we have looked quite secure and especially away from home we have turned out some good performances.”

Goalkeeper Zach Hemming made some smart saves for Chesterfield, who also had some good chances of their own, particularly for Ronan Darcy.

On the game overall, Roberts said: “We knew what was coming. They scream fight and scrap for every duel and every ball but I thought we handled them with 11 men and then with 10-men we dealt with that as we should do. I thought we deserved the points.

“You can’t just turn up to these stadiums and start trying to play lovely football. At Colchester, we did not earn that first 10-15 minutes when you have to win your duels and your headers. But today, Grimsby started just as good as Colchester but we stood up to it.”

Pym was sent off after clearly bringing down Bonis on the edge of the box after the striker had skipped past him.

Roberts said: “I have not seen it back but from where I was sitting on the bench it did look like a stonewall foul and straight red card. There was no argument with it.”

On playing against 10-men, he added: “We just had to go around them a little bit more. They went to a 4-3-2 so the spaces were on the outside of the pitch and we got our full-backs out a lot more. We just had to go around them and complete the first pass on the turnover. Against 10-men, you have got to make them run and work.”

And with 20 minutes remaining, Markanday’s trickery created the winner as Rodgers sliced the ball into his own net.

Roberts said: “He is a special player, isn't he? During those moments he can make you look really silly. He was chopping and turning and, although it was an own goal, it was all down to Dilan. It was great work.”

Chey Dunkley, on a yellow card, was withdrawn in the second 45 but Roberts confirmed it was a tactical decision to bring on Janoi Donacien.

Roberts added: “One or two of their staff, every time there was contact, they were in the fourth official’s ear. We didn’t want him (referee) to level it up so it was totally tactical and JD brought that calming influence to us.”