Cod Almighty | Diary

Any more pie?

18 October 2021

Miss Guest Diary writes: After a hectic few weeks of long trips down south and midweek nights in Premier Inns, I took a leaf out of Paul Hurst's book on Saturday and dropped myself to the bench. The "bench" being an armchair in front of the TV. Though part of me regrets not witnessing an easy 5-0 victory in person, I felt confident Town would win and I would get the opportunity to see them play in the FA Cup first round. From the jolly atmosphere apparent among the Town fans behind the goal and the lack of the usual chants, they were also confident.

It was only the TV pundits who tried to create a narrative whereby Bromsgrove might have had a chance. Had they done their homework, these "experts" would have known that Town have never lost in the qualifying round to any team from a lower league, even in seasons where we'd had a mediocre start. Instead they tried desperately to construct a scenario whereby Town's second goal probably didn't cross the line and so ruined Bromsgrove's chances of a giant killing. Had such a chance ever existed, I suggest it was well and truly kiboshed when the Bromsgrove manager referred to us as "not Man City".

As BOTB Diary admitted on Friday, the Grimsby mentality is naturally pessimistic so, with nothing else to fret about, some of the Twitterati chose to pick on Lenell John-Lewis's lack of goals this season. C'mon people, cut him some slack – Saturday was Lenny's first start this season and his previous substitute appearances have all come late in the games. Anyway, with 14 (fourteen) different goal scorers so far this season, it's not exactly a big issue. That's more scorers than goals scored by either Wrexham or Stockport, two of the promotion favourites who have supposedly splashed the cash on top strikers.

So on to the next round of the cup. I know some people were hoping for the opportunity to humiliate Scunny, but watching the draw yesterday I realised for me it was all about who I didn't want Town to play. Feeling relieved when teams like Cheltenham and Fleetwood were taken off the board and shouting "no, please, not Forest Green" at the TV.

Kidderminster away feels like a good tie. Not too far away and with a decent-sized stadium including a covered terrace behind the goal. Not sufficiently glamorous to warrant being televised so little chance of the kick-off time being changed. Not too many places between the teams – they are mid-table in the league below – to count as a giant killing should they beat us. Perfect.

Of course, Town fans have to have something to complain about, so there was much lamenting because the great pies for which Aggborough was once famous are no longer on offer. I say come to Blundell Park and sample the excellent food in the Fanzone and if you must eat during an away game take some sandwiches. It's what I do.

UTM.