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Keith Andrews has no intention of fielding Brentford’s fringe players in the Carabao Cup after a clinical 5-0 win at Blundell Park ended Grimsby’s impressive run of form in the competition.
The Bees have never reached a major cup final, but went one step closer after goals from Matthias Jensen and Keane Lewis-Potter. reece nelson, Fabio Carvalho And Nathan Collins blew out the Mariners.
The result continues an impressive debut season for Andrews, who made nine changes in the 3–2 Premier League win against liverpool Over the weekend.
When Andrews was asked whether he would continue the heavy rotation in the latter stages of the competition, he said, “I think if you go back to the last two rounds, we had players who were playing in league games.”
“Where we are, I think we have a really competitive team.
“We have excellent strength and depth and there is a real battle for places. And I think the players are aware of that because they push each other every day.
“Whatever that game (quarter-finals) is, we will pick the team that feels right to hopefully progress.”
The Mariners beat Manchester United in the second round here and Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the third round, but the crowd were wowed by two goals in five minutes of the first half as the Bees took a 3–0 lead at the interval.
Andrews later admitted that he had stressed to his players the need to be professional in order to avoid upsets against League Two opposition.
“I have real respect for this level – what they (Grimsby) do, how they survive or fight to stay at this level,” he said.
“I was very looking forward to this game. I really was. And because I knew it would be a fair close game and I knew it would be a game where we had to be professional.
“I knew everyone wanted you to miss. That’s just the reality.”
Jensen fired the opener from 20 yards after Lewis-Potter had regained possession and a header from former Hull player Nelson’s cross seconds later.
Nelson made his first start for the club by effectively ending the tie with a low effort from the edge of the box before the break.
Carvalho scored the fourth from the penalty spot and substitute Nathan Collins scored the fifth from a corner.
Amid a raucous crowd of 8,637, Grimsby impressed in the early stages but failed to muster a meaningful effort on goal.
Grimsby boss David Artell said: “I’m proud of them. I thought we were the better team for the first 25 minutes.
“I can’t remember them getting really close to our goal before we scored, and then suddenly, bang. And then they chase it.
“It puts our achievements into perspective, not just two rounds ago, against Man United, even in the last round, a team two leagues above (Sheffield Wednesday).
“Nobody wants to lose. Nobody wants to lose heavily. But I think we can all be proud of our accomplishments in this competition.”