County begin 2023 looking to pick up where they left off, as we travel to Grimsby Town on a day that could see us move into the play-off places for the first time this season.
That superb 2-0 win away at in-from Walsall a few days ago was our 7th victory in our last nine League Two games, and moved us above the Saddlers and into the top ten.
We are now just two points off Bradford City in the final play-off spot and nine off the automatic promotion places with a game in hand. Our goal difference of +11 is also currently the best outside of the top four. It remains an incredibly tight division, however, and defeat at Blundell Park could actually see us drop back into the bottom half of the table.
Dave Challinor spoke after the Walsall game about expecting a reaction from Grimsby, after the Mariners were taken apart 4-1 at home to Salford City on Thursday night courtesy of a first-half hat-trick from Matt Smith. That result leaves Paul Hurst’s side 16th, twelve above the relegation zone and nine off the play-off places.
Since we last met:
When the full-time whistle went on Grimsby’s 3-1 win at Edgeley Park back in October, last season’s National League Play-Off winners sat ten points above County in League Two, only two points off the play-off places themselves in 10th place. They remain the only side to have beaten us by more than one goal all season.
The contrasting fortunes of both Clubs since then have been quite remarkable – just nine games on and the two have traded places in the league, with the Mariners now seven points behind Dave Challinor’s side after winning just once in that time.
Having lost just three of their opening 13 games back in League Two, Hurst’s men have now lost six in nine, scoring just eight and conceding 16 in that time. They have, however, still managed to progress in the FA Cup after wins against League One Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United – they host Burton Albion in the third round next weekend.
Their form at Blundell Park has been a concern all season. Only Gillingham, Hartlepool and Rochdale have picked up fewer than their 11 points at home this season, with their only home wins coming against Crawley Town and Tranmere Rovers.
One to watch:
One plus point in recent weeks has been the return of last season’s star man, John McAtee. The forward was one of the National League’s most outstanding talents last season, earning him a Summer move to Championship side Luton Town.
The 23-year-old returned to Grimsby on loan as part of the deal, but suffered an injury on the opening day of the season that kept him out until November. He scored on his return to action just over a month ago, and has since started eight of the side’s last nine games – he was unlucky not to find the back of the net during that defeat to Salford a few days ago.
Match Stats:
- Ben Hinchliffe is set to make his 300th appearance for the Club in goal for this game – becoming the first player to reach this landmark for the Club since Sean Connelly in 1999.
- Grimsby have been something of a bogey side for County in recent years, with only two wins in our last seven games against The Mariners. Our last win at Blundell Park came in August 2012, thanks to goals from Danny Rowe and Danny Whitehead.
- Having scored one goal in his first 14 league appearances for the Club, Kyle Wootton has now scored six in his last eight – with four of them coming in his last two away games.
