Opposition view: Holloway criticises 'appalling' referee display and says Cobblers 'bullied' Grimsby

Grimsby Town manager Ian Holloway felt his side were 'bullied' by the Cobblers during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Blundell Park.

The Mariners had lost just once at home since Holloway's appointment two months ago but they were easily second best to Northampton on another wind-swept afternoon.

Charlie Goode and Callum Morton were on target in the first-half as Cobblers took control before Morton grabbed his second with an opportunistic strike late on.

"We huffed and puffed but they blew our house over," said Holloway. "It didn't happen for us today.

"We knew they were good at set-pieces so we talked about it and practised them but it doesn't matter how much you practise, you've still got to deliver.

"They were very, very good at it and they're very brave by leaving one on one at the back because they know they're very good at it.

"We were probably a bit lightweight to play against Keith's experienced team and you can only blame me for that.

"But it's all about chances. They pinned us in and got two goals but by half-time it should have been 2-2 - that's as poorly as we've finished since I've been here.

"Losing (James) Hanson didn't help but you can't afford to miss the chances we did, especially against a Keith Curle team.

"They basically bullied us in vital areas and they came out on top on second balls and we knew that was going to be the case but where was us imposing ourselves before going 2-0 down? We wilted. They got at us and they pressed us so well done to them."

Holloway also wasn't impressed by referee Scott Oldham, adding: "I thought the referee was absolutely appalling for both them and us.

"You've got to realise what a foul is and what a foul isn't and who's playing for one and who isn't because I thought it was quite embarrassing."