Phil Mulryne inspired Norwich to an emphatic victory against Grimsby at Carrow Road.

Mulryne scored a brace along with Northern Ireland international team-mate Paul McVeigh as the Canaries showed there was no hangover from last season's play-off loss.

Grimsby had three of their summer signings - Terry Cooke, Paul Robinson and Steve Chettle - in their starting line-up, but it proved to be of little help against a dominant Norwich.

The Canaries took a deserved lead on the half hour when Clint Easton slid the ball across to Mulryne and he drilled a sweetly-struck shot into the bottom corner.

Easton played his part in City's second 12 minutes later as his dangerous cross found the head of Roberts.

Hungry

His flick landed at the feet of McVeigh and he slotted home.

The home side continued in the same vein after the interval and Mulryne could have had his second in the 49th minute but keeper Danny Coyne did well to stop his fierce shot.

Grimsby battled away, with Steve Livingstone coming close with a header, but Mulryne was not to be denied.

He grabbed his second on the hour following neat interplay with Mark Rivers setting up the former Manchester United trainee.

Mulryne lifted the ball neatly over the advancing Coyne to put Norwich three up.

New-boy Darren Barnard was introduced by Grimsby boss Paul Groves shortly after, and he was quickly into the action, firing over with a vicious 20-yard strike.

But Nigel Worthington's men were hungry for more goals, and McVeigh netted his second in the 70th minute.

He latched onto a Roberts through-ball before sliding the ball under Coyne.