Karl Robinson bemoans ‘silly’ defeat for Salford as Grimsby march on

Karl Robinson was disappointed with his Salford team’s 2-0 defeat against high-flying Grimsby but said he thought they were the better side.

Evan Khouri’s first-minute strike and another before half-time by Charles Vernam were enough to seal the points and take Grimsby above their opponents to third in League Two.

Robinson said: “I thought we were by far the better team but credit to Grimsby, I have complete respect for how they won the game.

“Our finishing has been way off the mark. Between the two boxes we have controlled our last two games, but we have been flippant in the way we have defended our area.

“To concede the first goal was silly, then for the second goal we have let Vernam inside and he has a lovely right foot.

“We did not exploit their defensive errors and we should have been more ruthless with our chances.

“Unfortunately, when you come into any game of football, it’s all down to the chances that you create and making sure that you take them. Today, we have been horrific with our finishing.

“We are fifth and we were always going to go through a moment in the season where we miss chances.

“We have to be a lot more positive because our start to the season has put us in a great position.”

The visitors made a lightning-fast start and took the lead in the first minute when Khouri struck past goalkeeper Matty Young.

Grimsby doubled their advantage when Vernam fired a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Jorge Grant squandered a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when he blazed a shot over from close range before half-time.

The visitors comfortably repelled Salford’s attacking play throughout a second half short on clear-cut chances and held on resolutely to earn three points.

Manager David Artell said: “That was a proper win against a tough team to play.

“Salford have made a terrific start themselves, and they ask questions of you physically. They have plenty of athletic players, but I thought we coped with their threat really well.

“We didn’t let them get behind our defence. The ball fell to them a couple of times, there were a couple of ricochets where they made a couple of chances, but we put in blocks and made good saves when we needed to.

“They threw on striker after striker, forward after forward, and I thought we dealt with the pressure well.

“Today was about defending and doing the basics well and I thought we did that.

“Away from home, you sometimes have to soak up pressure for 10 minutes and accept that they’re going to be in possession and in the ascendancy.

“When you get opportunities, you have to take them because that does have big momentum swings.

“We knew what we were doing when we turned the ball over and we countered their threat. I thought we did terrifically well today.”