By Paul Holmes
September 29 2002

Round up of results from Saturday 28th September, as Grimsby finally record a win to come off the bottom, Leicester continue their rich vein of form leaving Wolves stuttering and Millwall out shoot Coventry at Highfield Road. Brighton 1 Grimsby 2

This was a must win game for both teams but it was Paul Groves Grimsby who took the 3 points to swap places in the table with Brighton.

The Mariners got off to a great start after just 2 minutes. Winger Darren Barnard firing home sweetly with his left foot. Grimsby almost doubled their lead minutes later when rookie striker Darren Mansaram, who was making his full debut, saw his deflected shot fit the post.

Despite the sustained pressure Grimsby could not but Brighton away and the home side made it level through the returning Bobby Zamora after 72 minutes. The England Under-21 striker raced on to a through ball from Charlie Oatway before slamming past Danny Coyne in the Grimsby goal. Grimsby were not prepared to settle for a point and thought they had taken the lead with 15 minutes to go. Alan Pouton's curled free-kick sailed past Michelle Kuipers in goal but referee Mark Warren disallowed the goal after a Brighton player had encroached. Grimsby coach Paul Wilkinson was furious with the decision and earned himself a red card for his protests.

Grimsby still pressed on and Pouton got his goal five minutes later. A superb solo run resulted in a 20-yard drive that Kuipers had no chance with.

Burnley 1 Wimbledon 0

After their terrible start to the season Burnley are fighting their way out of the relegation battle and into mid table whilst Wimbledon are left just 1 point away from the bottom 3.

Don's keeper Kelvin Davis produced top quality saves from Glen Little, Robbie Blake, Gareth Taylor and Lee Briscoe in the first half alone to keep the scores level.

Davis has no chance with the goal though, Briscoe's neat cross was dummied by Alan Moore leaving Little to fire an unstoppable left footer past Davis on 52 minutes.

Little almost grabbed a brace but Davis somehow managed to tip his curler around the post.

Coventry 2 Millwall 3

On paper this should have been an easy home win, but in football that's never the case.

Dennis Wise made his Millwall debut and managed to contain himself until the second minute before picking up his first booking.

The Sky Blues took the game straight to Millwall who have Tony Warner to thank for stopping a rout. The ex-Liverpool man foiling Gary McSheffrey and Jay Bothroyd. The pressure finally came good for the home side on 21 minutes. McSheffrey smashing home from close range after an almighty scramble following a Gary McAllister corner.

Millwall were quick to reply, 17 minutes to be precise. Christophe Kinet's effort bounced back from the post but Kevin Davis, on loan from Southampton, converted. Just when it was looking like the teams would be going in at half time level, The Sky Blues grabbed another. Lee Mills turned Stuart Nethercott before a stunning 30 yard drive that left Warner helpless.

Millwall waited just 5 minutes into the break before equalising. A knockdown header from Davis was met by Kinet who hot a sweet volley home. The Lions then managed to take all 3 points through Neil Harris with 6 minutes to go. The striker's superb turn left Gary Caldwell standing whilst Harris fired low for the win.

Ipswich 0 Derby 1

Both teams were hot favourites to set the division alight after relegation from the Premiership last season but neither have made a massive impression.

It was Derby who took the spoils away from Portman Road to move up to 9th in the table. Horacio Carbonari scoring from close range from a Rob Lee cross, question marks will be raised over the level of defending by Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys wasted plenty of chances with youngster Darren Bent the biggest culprit. Derby's financial worries have left an a cloud of uncertainty over the club and the players whilst Ipswich, who are only staying out of the bottom three on goal difference, seem to be distracted by UEFA cup excursions like last season. Ipswich do have 3 games in hand of most teams in the division and maximum points would take them to the play-of zone.

Leicester 1 Wolves 0

Leciester took full advantage a Wolves team that are looking a pace reflection of last season's promotion challengers, despite the signings of Paul Ince and Denis Irwin in the summer.

Leicester got off to the ideal start after just 6 minutes. Paul Dikov scoring from the penalty spot after Lee Naylor had pushed him over. Wolves were disappointing all afternoon with Ian Walker in the Leicester goal redundant until his handled back-pass forced him to charge and block from Lee Naylor's resulting indirect free-kick late in the game.

The Foxes victory was tainted slightly by Muzzy Izzet's red card. The Turkish international was shown two yellow cards for bad challenge's on Irwin and Alex Rae.

Leicester continue to look like genuine contenders for promotion but Wolves seem destined for mid-table obscurity unless some consistency can be restored to the ranks at Molineux.