JOHN Doolan was pleased with Paddy Madden's debut performance as Accrington Stanley fought back from a goal down to draw with unbeaten Grimsby Town at the Wham Stadium.
The experienced striker joined Stanley on loan from Chesterfield Town and started against the Mariners.
Jaze Kabia put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute, firing home Reece Staunton’s cross, but also saw his 50th-minute penalty saved by Stanley keeper Ollie Wright, who was making his EFL debut.
Grimsby had a host of other chances they did not take and were punished in the 65th minute when Alex Henderson’s ball in was headed home by Tyler Walton for his third goal of the campaign.
“Paddy got over 70 minutes in his legs which is good for him and Tyler scored a great goal so I was pleased with the forward line," said Doolan
“I thought it was a good game, they are a very good side. They are unbeaten for a reason, they have good players but we let ourselves down in moments of the game.
“We felt it was unjust going in at half-time losing as we could have been 2-0 up in 14 minutes, we hit the post and had a good chance.
“But we showed great character in the second half to come back.
“We showed our qualities in front of goal especially the goal where it’s a great ball in by Hendo and finish by Tyler.
“In the last half hour we were on the front foot and aggressive and we had a goal ruled out for offside which I will have to look back at.
“Ollie made his league debut, he has come for crosses and punched balls away and made a brilliant penalty save.”
Grimsby boss David Artell praised striker Kabia but was frustrated his unbeaten Mariners only came away with a point.
He said: “Jaze deserved his goal and he should have had another, that’s why we brought him to the club. It’s a terrific start to his EFL career, with four goals in his six games. I won’t knock him for missing a penalty as anyone can do that.
“Overall though we should have taken all three points. We had chances and we didn’t take them.
“You have got to be ruthless and clinical when you are on top. We had six good chances so to only score one is disappointing.
“We were on top for large spells and the equally disappointing thing is for the last half hour we started to play long ball and that is unacceptable. We stopped passing to each other and that’s why we didn’t sustain our superiority.
“Saying that we are unbeaten and it’s seven points out of nine in a tough week.
“I am pleased on one hand but disappointed on another that we aren’t stood here with two more points.”
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