Nationwide Round-Up: Week 5

By: Richard Lord
Date: 08/09/2002

ANOTHER week has passed us by, Grimsby haven't played a game and now we are bottom of the table - thanks to the unpredictable teams of Derby and Burnley.

Now it's very lonely as the Mariners are the only team without a win in the league. And we have scored the fewest. Our next two games are away at Coventry and Sheffield United. Better start praying.

Talking of Sheffield United, they somehow managed to win at Norwich. Don't ask me how, but they did. In fact, the Blades were 2-0 up after six minutes and were 3-0 up by half time.

In fact, Sheffield United have crept their way up into seventh place relatively unnoticed, apart from me of course. As for Norwich, they will say it is but a blip on their impressive start to the campaign but there will be more struggles ahead for them.

Ask any Rotherham fan about last season and they will tell you they drew too many at home. Already this season the Millers have drawn three out of four at Mill Moor and Reading were the visitors on this occasion to earn a point.

Speaking of last season, Watford never really got their game together away from home and they're doing the same this season. At home they look fine, and saw off the challenge of Walsall although not in comfortable style.

It looks like Town kick-started Millwall's season, as they won again this weekend. Town have a habit of giving other teams head starts (i.e. Rotherham last season) and now we want some other generous team (i.e. Coventry) to return the favour.

Brighton have been slipping down the table ever since they hit their peak on the opening day of the season. They look like they might be relegation rivals for Town as the season unfolds.

Derby do not impress anyone at the moment. Certainly not their home fans. How I would love to be a fly on the wall in their dressing room after their latest defeat, just so I could see John Gregory go mad.

Leicester don't appear to have suffered any ill effects from their 6-1 drubbing at Ipswich a few weeks ago as they have now moved into second place with their latest win coming at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon are another team that are doing remarkably well considering every game must feel like an away game with no home support. I think that when the time comes, the game between the Dons and the Mariners will see more home fans than away fans.

Finally, we move to Portsmouth and their continued progression. Gillingham were once top of the table, now it's Pompey after this 3-1 win at the Priestfield. Gillingham obviously didn't deploy a man-marking system on Merson in a 4-5-1 formation.

My top players for this week are Neil Shipperley (left, still finding the net on a regular occasion for Wimbledon), Michael Tonge of Sheffield United (proving my point that he's United's best player) and the whole Sheffield Wednesday team (for not doing anything wrong by not actually playing).

Top manager of the week must be Stan Ternant (right), for going to Derby and getting a result when his team most needed it. Also, I couldn't finish this article before mentioning Mansfield's defence.

It's not often that I will dip into the lower divisions but when your team has conceded 22 goals in seven matches, it has to be mentioned. Especially when 14 of them have come at home in 4-0 and 5-0 defeats.

Also Danny Shittu, that has to be mentioned. The former Blackpool and Charlton player was on the scoresheet for QPR at Mansfield this weekend.

League Table

Add To Facebook

This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!

Related Stories

• Nationwide Round-Up: Week 4
• 2002-2003 Match Round-Ups
• 2002-2003 Squad Statistics
• More Stories