Grimsby Town’s best Carabao Cup run for 24 years came to an end at the last-16 stage as Premier League Brentford produced a clinical display to win at Blundell Park.
After seeing off Shrewsbury Town, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday to reach the fourth round, a sold-out crowd gathered in Cleethorpes hoping to see the Mariners claim another famous cup victory under the lights.
But after a positive opening by the hosts, Brentford took the lead through Danish international Mathias Jensen and Keane Lewis-Potter added a quickfire second.
Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson made it 3-0 before half-time to leave the West London side firmly in charge at the break.
Fabio Carvalho then scored a fourth from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half and substitute Nathan Collins headed home from a corner to round off the scoring and complete a professional performance by the top-division outfit.
Grimsby head coach David Artell made three changes to his starting XI following the narrow Sky Bet League Two defeat at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, with Sam Lavelle, Darragh Burns and Evan Khouri coming in for Tyrell Warren, Justin Amaluzor and Jamie Walker.
Christy Pym started in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, Lavelle, Cameron McJannet and Jayden Sweeney making up the defence. George McEachran sat behind Burns, Kieran Green, Khouri and Charles Vernam in midfield, while Jaze Kabia led the attack.
Warren, Amaluzor and Walker were all named on a nine-man substitutes’ bench, alongside Charlie Casper, Reece Staunton, Jason Svanthorsson, Geza Turi, Clarke Oduor and Danny Rose.
Brentford boss Keith Andrews opted to rotate his squad for the trip north, with only Sepp van den Berg and Dango Ouattara remaining in the starting line-up from the team that began the weekend’s Premier League victory over Liverpool.
It was still a very strong Bees selection though, with eight of the XI having been named on the bench for the 3-2 success over Arne Slot’s men and all boasting international experience at youth or senior levels.
Striker Ouattara was among the goalscorers on Saturday evening, while former Hull City winger Lewis-Potter and ex-Liverpool attacker Carvalho were also expected to be among the chief threats.
FIRST HALF
Town were straight on the attack after a foul on Lavelle inside the centre-circle but after a cagey start to the contest, it was Brentford who had the first opening in front of goal on eight minutes. Lewis-Potter got down the right and sent a low cross over which found its way to Nelson but his shot was blocked.
Lewis-Potter fired a volley high over the bar from a tight angle at the far post after meeting a cross from the away left, then the Mariners won the first corner as good pressure by Kabia led to a mistake from Frank Onyeka. Vernam played it short to Burns but the offside flag went up when he sent the ball into the penalty area.
Vernam turned and worked the space to shoot from 12 yards after a good cross by Burns on the right on 14 minutes, although Brentford goalkeeper Hakan Valdimarsson got down to make a comfortable stop.
A low cross from Rodgers was cleared as Town continued to show promising signs, then the right-back calmly headed an away free kick back to Pym at the other end.
Khouri met a Burns cross at the end of an excellent Mariners move on 20 minutes but could not generate enough power on his header to seriously test Valdimarsson.
But when the opening goal arrived two minutes later, it was the visitors who took the lead in clinical fashion. Town lost possession in a dangerous area near their own box and Lewis-Potter took the ball on before finding JENSEN, who steered a 20-yard strike beyond Pym.
The hosts immediately looked to respond and after a Burns free kick was dealt with, they retained possession until an offside decision against Green.
Town were to fall further behind on 26 minutes, however, as McEachran lost out to Onyeka and after he made progress through the middle, the ball was played to Nelson on the left. The Arsenal loanee worked an opening for a cross and when he chipped it to the far post, LEWIS-POTTER headed home unmarked.
A good challenge by McJannet stopped a third goal on the half-hour as he got back to deny Ouattara after Rico Henry’s low, left-wing cross, before Onyeka missed the target from 25 yards as Brentford came forward again.
Valdimarsson stopped a cross from Green after good play by Vernam, then a corner at the other end was headed away and Kabia aimed to launch a counter-attack but could not get past Henry.
Burns cleared a cross from Onyeka as Brentford aimed for a third goal before the break and the visitors got what they were looking for soon afterwards, with NELSON placing a crisp, low strike past Pym from the edge of the box.
Lavelle headed a Lewis-Potter chip behind for a corner but the ball from the flag was turned behind for a goal kick as the half entered a minimum of two added minutes.
And no further chances came for either side before the half-time whistle, with the visitors in full control at the interval.
SECOND HALF
No changes were made before the restart and the away side were given a chance to make it 4-0 nine minutes into the second half as Carvalho was bundled over inside the box by Khouri. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and the Mariners midfielder was booked before CARVALHO got up to beat Pym from 12 yards.
Town made four changes on 57 minutes, as Rodgers, McEachran, Burns and Green made way for Warren, Turi, Svanthorsson and Walker.
Brentford head coach Andrews then looked to his bench for the first time three minutes later, with van den Berg and Ouattara making way for Collins and Kevin Schade.
Vernam cut inside from the left and fired a cross-shot off-target, before Town won a corner on the right as they pushed forward in a bid to get themselves on the scoresheet. Vernam’s delivery from the flag was headed away as far as Khouri and after he played the ball to McJannet on the left, his cross was headed wide by Kabia at the far post.
Nelson and Onyeka were replaced by Vitaly Janelt and Romelle Donovan for the away side on 68 minutes, then Michael Kayode came on for Benjy Arthur two minutes later.
A blocked shot by Schade ricocheted off Warren to give Brentford a corner with 15 minutes to go and from it, they made it 5-0 when COLLINS got to Jensen’s delivery first to power a header into the net.
Rose came on for Vernam in Town’s final change after the goal, then Sweeney saw the yellow card for a foul on Donovan. The resulting free kick from the away right was cleared.
Kabia earned a Town free kick when he was brought down by Ethan Pinnock on the right but the home side were unable to make the most of the set-piece opportunity.
Janelt lifted a 25-yard strike over the bar at the end of a neat Brentford move, before a free kick from the away right led to an offside decision.
Two added minutes were played at the end of the game and after Carvalho shot wide of the near post, the visitors saw out the remainder of the time to seal their passage to the quarter-finals.
And despite the scoreline, the Town players were given warm applause at the final whistle for their efforts as they bowed out of the competition to classy opposition.
The Mariners now turn their attention to the FA Cup, with National League South side Ebbsfleet United set to visit Blundell Park for a first round clash on Saturday.
Town: Pym, Rodgers (Warren, 57), Lavelle, McJannet, Sweeney, McEachran (Turi, 57), Burns (Svanthorsson, 57), Green (Walker, 57), Khouri, Vernam (Rose, 76), Kabia
UTM
