The Opposition: Grimsby Town (A)

The Opposition: Grimsby Town (A)
Form, previous meetings and more!

February 29th 2024FGR Media

It's a long trip to North East Lincolnshire on Saturday as Rovers look to continue their good form in League Two, which has seen them claim seven points from their last four matches.

Sitting one place and three points above us in the table, Grimsby are searching for their first win of 2024. We played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Mariners at The New Lawn back in November.

IN THE DUGOUT

Grimsby appointed David Artell as their new boss in November following the dismissal of Paul Hurst.

This is only Artell's second management job, but he managed 275 matches during a five-and-a-half year stint in charge of Crewe Alexandra. Artell brought about continued improvement at the Railwaymen, finishing 15th in League Two in his first season, before following that up with a 12th-placed finish in the 2018-19 campaign.

In the following season, Artell's Crewe achieved an impressive promotion, finishing second in the fourth tier in a campaign that was ultimately decided by points per game. Artell received plenty of plaudits, with his side scoring 67 goals in 37 matches, with the likes of Harry Pickering, Perry Ng, Callum Ainley, Charlie Kirk, Tom Lowery and Owen Dale all playing key roles in the promotion having made their way through the academy ranks at Gresty Road.

Perhaps even more impressive was the following season, where the Railwaymen finished in the top half of League One. However, Artell was dismissed in April 2022 after the club were relegated back to League Two.

JANUARY BUSINESS

There was plenty of activity at Blundell Park during the winter transfer window, both ins and outs.

Highly-rated midfielder Kamil Conteh departed to join Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee, while experienced defender Luke Waterfall and full-back Michee Efete joined Hartlepool United and Ross County respectively.

Artell's most experienced January recruit was 30-year-old Curtis Thompson, who played 33 times in the Championship for Wycombe Wanderers just three seasons ago. Thompson has played over 200 times across League One and League Two and joined the Mariners from Cheltenham Town, where he was followed by Robins loanee Liam Smith, a 27-year-old full-back who has spent the majority of his career north of the border.

Defender Doug Thame, recruited from Blackpool, has started Grimsby's last two league matches, while full-back Denver Hume has been an ever-present since his Deadline Day switch from Portsmouth.

Youngsters Justin Obikwu and Harry Wood have bolstered the Mariners' options up top and in midfield respectively. Obikwu, on loan from Coventry City, signed a new contract with the Sky Blues before making the move to Blundell Park, while Wood scored on his debut in a 5-5 draw with Notts County after joining on loan from Hull City.

ONE TO WATCH

Danny Rose has been the main source of output for Grimsby this season, with 12 goals in 29 appearances and six goals in his last nine starts.

Rose has hit double figures in a season in the fourth tier for the fourth time in his career. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, only Paul Mullin, John Akinde, Jamille Matt, Andy Cook and Danny Hylton have scored more goals in League Two than the 30-year-old (67).