CITY made a winning start in the EFL Trophy but finished their 2-1 victory at Grimsby with 10 men.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Blundell Park last night and provides his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Richie Smallwood carried on from where he left off at the weekend with another influential display in City’s midfield. The captain played several sweeping passes to get his side on the attack.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Emmanuel Osadebe finally got his first City goal – and it was worth the wait as he slalomed his way across the Grimsby penalty area before firing past keeper Harvey Cartwright.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Referee Paul Howard should surely have sent off Grimsby defender Harvey Rodgers in the late melee which saw Emmanuel Osadebe red-carded.

Rodgers sparked the rumpus with a horrible challenge on Chishom Afoka and then appeared to hold him down.

TACTICS

Kevin McDonald made wholesale changes for his second game with only Richie Smallwood and Bobby Pointon staying in the side.

Colin Doyle played his first game in City’s goal since May 2018 as Harry Lewis was one of several regulars to be given the night off. That ended the keeper’s ever-present run since he signed from Southampton 16 months ago.

REFEREE: Paul Howard (London)

BOOKINGS: Rodgers (Grimsby); Kelly, McDonald (City) SENT OFF: Osadebe (City)

ATTENDANCE: 747

PLAYER RATINGS

GRIMSBY: Cartwright 7, Efete 6, Rodgers 6, Maher 6, Bramwell 6, Holohan 7, Hunt 6, Conteh 6 (Andrews 63min), Eisa 6 (Gardner 63min), Gnahoua 7, Pyke 7. Subs (not used): Eastwood, Waterfall, Rose.

CITY: Doyle 7, Oyegoke 6 (Halliday 27min, 7), Taylor 7, Kelly 7, Richards 7 (Gilliead 73min), Smallwood 8, McDonald 7 (Platt 81min), Pointon 7 (Wilson 81min), Afoka 6, Osadebe 6, Smith 6 (Jeffreys 81min). Subs (not used): Derbyshire, Richardson.