Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 27 August 2005

27 August 2005

Town's tremendous run of away form continues as a Calvin Andrew goal is enough to claim three points at Barnet, with Russell Slade retaining the 4-4-1-1 formation that earned Wednesday night's cup win at Derby. The Luton loanee headed home a ball from Rob Jones almost immediately after the restart, when he became one of two half-time substitutions following a goalless first 45. On a darker note, Paul Bolland becomes the Mariners' third red card recipient this season with a double booking for dissent as the referee suffers some kind of seizure late in the game and issues four yellows to GTFC players in as many minutes - treasonously including one to Sir John McDermott - to go with the one Tom Newey added to his extensive collection during the first half. The Town defence holds out through a nervous epoch of injury time, though, and the team moves on to seven points and ninth place with a game in hand.

Earlier today the side's exertions at Pride Park were rewarded with what is generally known as a plum draw in the second round of the League Cup, although other stone-bearing fruits may serve equally well. With the clubs involved in European competition exempt from entering the tournament until they can be arsed, Town's home tie against Tottenham is one of the biggest that could have been hoped for and will evoke memories of the cracker that ensued at Blundell Park in 1991 the last time the two sides met. The matches will be played from 19 to 21 September. And I'm going to stare gormlessly into the camera like Graham Kelly used to at the end of the cup draw for a few seconds until it cuts back to the studio.