League One outfit Barnsley will be bidding to make a winning start to their EFL Trophy Northern Group F campaign when they take on Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.
The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday, while Grimsby beat Gillingham by the same scoreline on the same afternoon in League Two.
Match preview
© Reuters
Barnsley finished fourth in League One last season, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in the final.
The Tykes will again be expecting to challenge for promotion to the Championship, and they have made a solid start to their 2023-24 League One campaign, picking up 10 points from six matches to sit eighth in the table.
Neill Collins's side will enter this match off the back of successive wins over Wigan Athletic and Cheltenham Town, but they have already been beaten in a cup competition this season, losing on penalties to Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup.
The EFL Trophy is not high on Barnsley's list of priorities this season, but they won the competition in 2015-16, overcoming Oxford United in the final to secure the trophy.
Barnsley have not actually beaten Grimsby in any competition since March 2001, and they suffered a 6-1 defeat to the Mariners when the two sides last locked horns in February 2004.
© Reuters
Grimsby, meanwhile, will enter this contest off the back of a 2-0 win over Gillingham on Saturday, with Niall Maher and Gavan Holohan on the scoresheet in the League Two affair.
The Mariners have picked up nine points from their opening six matches of the season to sit in 12th position in the table, and they have already started their EFL Trophy Northern Group F campaign.
Indeed, Grimsby faced Manchester City Under-21s in their section opener on August 29, with the two teams playing out a 2-2 draw before Brian Barry-Murphy's side won 4-2 on penalties.
Man City Under-21s are therefore top of the section on two points, with Paul Hurst's side in second on a single point, demonstrating the importance of picking up a positive result here.
Grimsby have won this competition on two previous occasions, with their last success coming in 1997-98, when they recorded a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in the final.
- L
- D
- L
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- D
- D
- L
- W
Team News
Barnsley have not reported any fresh injury concerns from their two-goal success over Cheltenham in the league on Saturday afternoon.
However, there will be changes from the side that started in the league, with Theo Chapman set to be among those to be introduced into the XI.
Devante Cole has scored six times this season during an excellent start, but the 28-year-old is expected to be rested for this contest.
Grimsby head coach Hurst, meanwhile, could select the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Man City Under-21s in the competition last time out.
Rekeil Pyke was on the scoresheet against the Citizens and should continue in the final third, although there might be a change out wide, with Harry Clifton potentially coming in for Charles Vernam.
Harvey Cartwright is set to get the nod between the sticks, while Michee Efete should also start.
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; Williams, Lopata, Shepherd; Cotter, Kane, Russell, Winfield; Chapman; McAtee, Watters
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Cartwright; Efete, Mullarkey, Maher, Driscoll-Glennon; Gnahoua, Andrews, Hunt, Khouri, Vernam; Pyke
We say: Barnsley 2-0 Grimsby Town
Both sides will make changes for this match, but Barnsley will be able to call upon the superior quality across the pitch, and we are expecting the home side to secure the victory on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
