Ian Holloway enjoys thumping win over former club Grimsby

It was a happy return for Ian Holloway to Blundell Park as his Swindon side thrashed Grimsby 4-0.

Swindon took the lead in the eighth minute as Tom Nichols was fed the ball on the edge of the box and shot first-time past Jordan Wright.

It only got better for Holloway, who managed Grimsby for a year before leaving in December 2020, as Ollie Clarke bundled in a second goal in the 32nd minute after the Mariners failed to clear their lines from a set-piece.

The Robins removed all doubt over the result 65 minutes in as Kabongo Tshimanga slotted in at the far post, thanks to Harry Smith’s dummy run in the centre of the box.

Substitute Joe Westley could have added a fourth but did not get clean contact on his shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

Kieran Green grazed the outside of the post and Charles Vernam fired a powerful shot narrowly wide, but Grimsby could not reply as Botan Ameen added a fourth for Swindon in the 96th minute, the 17-year-old’s first league goal.