Football: Wednesday found out by Livingstone

Grimsby Town 2 Sheffield Wednesday

After their poor start to the Premiership campaign, Wednesday may struggle to avoid an embarrassing exit from the Coca-Cola Cup, after being outplayed by a Second Division side they had beaten 7-1 in the FA Cup only last January. Grimsby's lead will not easily be overturned in the second round, second leg at Hillsborough.

Despite their poor form, Wednesday represent a potentially plum scalp for Alan Buckley's team. "I was so pleased with our performance," Buckley said. "We produced some good football and the players can be proud of themselves."

This, however, was a Wednesday yet to find their touch, lying next to bottom of the Premiership and beset already by injuries and suspensions, which cost them the services of five first-team regulars. Nigel Clough started in place of David Hirst.

It was a Wednesday, also, rather less excited by the occasion than their opponents. Once in front, Grimsby raised their game to a tempo their opponents could not match. Wednesday defended "sloppily" in the words of manager David Pleat, whose forwards failed to force one serious save from Grimsby's goalkeeper Jason Pearcey.

Grimsby led after 17 minutes. A cross from the left by Kingsley Black failed to fall for Lee Nogan but, when the ball ran loose, Paul Groves drilled it into the bottom left-hand corner from 18 yards.

By the time Grimsby doubled their advantage, six minutes into the second half, there was only one side in it. Indeed, the Wednesday goal had survived two narrow scrapes within three minutes when Nogan set up Steve Livingstone to power home the second goal from 15 yards. Only two fine saves by Kevin Pressman, keeping out headers by Nogan and Tommy Widdrington, spared Wednesday a heavier defeat.

Grimsby Town (4-4-2): Pearcey; McDermott, Lever, Handyside, Gallimore; Donovan, Groves, Widdrington, Black; Livingstone, Nogan (Lester, 86). Substitutes not used: Jobling, Woods.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Pressman; Atherton, Newsome, Walker, Nolan; Di Canio, Magilton, Collins (Briscoe, 58), Pembridge; Whittingham, Clough. Substitutes not used: Clarke (gk), Nicol.

Referee: M Fletcher (Warley).