Ravanelli's abandonment plea

Livingstone was lying prone on the Blundell Park turf after an horrific clash of heads with Rams defender Danny Higginbotham.

The visiting player was extremely late going for an aerial challenge and caught Livingstone with a thumping header.

The Grimsby veteran fell to the ground unconscious and had blood pouring out of his ear.

Livingstone was stretchered off and taken to hospital but scans have shown there is no damage, with the forward expected to make a full recovery.

Grimsby boss Paul Groves revealed Rams striker Ravanelli was pleading with referee Tony Leake to call the game off.

"It was one of the worst sights I have seen in football. It must have been a severe bang for a big lad like Steve to be down like that," said Groves.

"Ravanelli pleaded with the referee to have the game called off."

Derby's first team coach Billy McEwan also admitted that Higginbotham was shaken by the incident.

McEwan said: "He is a bit upset but these things happen. There was nothing malicious in the challenge. It is a contact sport."