ANDY Cook will be happy to hear any stick coming his way at Grimsby this weekend – and so will his manager.

City’s talismanic hitman boasts an incredible record against his former clubs.

His goal at Blundell Park in the Carabao Cup earlier this month was his 17th for the Bantams when facing one of his old teams.

It is a remarkable haul – and often fuelled by the goading he takes from opposing fans.

Cook will willingly take it and dish it back with his goal celebrations in front of them.

Graham Alexander can see a similarity with Leicester legend Jamie Vardy, who recently taunted Spurs supporters after equalising by pointing out that he had won the Premier League unlike them.

 

 

The City boss said: “Cooky loves scoring goals, I’ve seen him celebrate in training.

“Ultimately, supporters have a little respect for that. He stands up and goes, ‘c’mon, bring it on’ and he’ll have a bit of fun and banter.

“He’s similar to Jamie Vardy, who was highlighted the other week doing it.

“I think Andy Cook’s of a similar mould. They’ve got that in them to prove people wrong and have a laugh about it as well.

“I’d love that to be the case on Saturday if possible.”

Cook's goal in last week's win over Bromley took him up to joint eighth in the list of City's all-time leading scorers on 72.

Alexander is well aware of his hot streak against previous clubs because the number nine let him know.

“He told me about that when I left him out the Mansfield game last year – then he came on and scored.

“I just asked him to not like anybody rather than just ex-employers!

“I do see a real motivation to score in all the games. He’s the same in training, he’s always motivated to score goals.

“Cooky is a lad of habit and runs and ideas. He has this idea that he wants to prove people wrong.

“I don’t know if it’s the criticism but he potentially might feel rejected by former clubs. He wants to prove them wrong.

“That is a strong force to have. There’s a bit of that in all of us.

“When people write you off or disregard you, you want to prove them wrong.

“If it helps him score for us on Saturday, then great.

Andy Cook bagged his 72nd goal for City in the win over BromleyAndy Cook bagged his 72nd goal for City in the win over Bromley (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“I don’t want it to overshadow anything else he has to do for the team. It’s not his only mission and I don’t think Cooky has ever crossed that line of it being just about scoring goals.

“He wants to help the team with all aspects. But he has that uncanny record, so fingers crossed.”

Cook was targeted by the Grimsby crowd after he came off the bench in the cup tie. He went on to net the second-half equaliser and also scored in the penalty shoot-out which the Mariners eventually won.

Alexander added: “It’s part of the fun of going to a football match and giving your ex-player or ex-manager a bit of stick.

“It’s a bit of the fun from the players’ perspective of going and getting a result or scoring a goal.

“That’s part of the environment that football creates. I think it’s one of the good things about it as long as it never ever crosses the line.”