League Two Grimsby Town will play host to Championship opponents Sheffield Wednesday at Blundell Park on Tuesday in the second round of the 2024-25 EFL Cup.
The hosts narrowly progressed past Bradford City on penalties in the first round, while the visitors defeated Hull City in their first-round matchup.
Match preview
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Following their promotion from the National League in 2021-22, where they won the playoff final against Solihull Moors, Grimsby have experienced two vastly opposing campaigns back in League Two.
In 2022-23, their first year back in the fourth tier, Grimsby comfortably avoided relegation as they finished in 11th place with 61 points, leaving them just 14 points behind the playoff places.
With ambitions of moving closer to the playoffs last season, Grimsby had an extremely underwhelming term, falling to 21st in the table and finishing only seven points above the drop zone.
David Artell, who took over from Paul Hurst in November 2023, will be aiming to lead the Mariners back up the League Two table, but they have endured a challenging start to 2024-25.
They have lost two of their three league fixtures so far, including a 4-1 loss to Notts County in their most recent outing, with their sole victory coming thanks to a 93rd-minute winner from Jordan Davies against Cheltenham Town.
Despite being dominated for large portions of the game, Grimsby advanced past Bradford City in the first round of this competition with a dramatic 9-8 victory on penalties.
The visitors have also had a mixed opening to the 2024-25 season, winning two and losing two of their four matches played across all competitions so far.
Sheff Weds got off to the perfect start as they thrashed Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle side 4-0 in the opening game of the Championship season, but they have since failed to score in their subsequent league fixtures, losing 4-0 and 2-0.
Their only other victory came in their second game of the season, when they defeated Hull City 2-1 in the EFL Cup first round, following an action-packed opening 10 minutes that saw Charlie McNeill score twice for the Owls and Marvin Mehlem score for the Tigers.
Danny Rohl, who successfully oversaw Sheffield Wednesday's survival in their first year back in the Championship last year with 53 points to finish 20th, three points above the drop zone, will be hoping his side can end their losing streak with a victory against Grimsby on Tuesday.
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Team News
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Davies, who joined Grimsby on loan from Wrexham this season, could be a doubt for the hosts after being taken off in the 13th minute of their defeat to Notts County.
Jason Dadi Svanthorsson could come back into the starting lineup after making his first appearance from the bench against Notts County following an injury on the opening day.
As for the visitors, Ben Hamer is unlikely to be available due to an injury that is suspected to keep him out of the side until early September.
Following back-to-back defeats for Sheffield Wednesday, losing 6-0 on aggregate, Rohl is anticipated to make a whole host of changes for this game and could name the team that last secured a victory against Hull City in the EFL Cup.
McNeill, who netted both goals in that win, is yet to make an appearance in the Championship, but the young forward could be in line for a return to the starting XI here.
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Warren, Rodgers, McJannett; Khouri; McEachran, Green; Svanthorsson, Green, Vernam; Wilson
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Charles; Valentin, Ihiekwe, Diaby, Johnson; Palmer, Fusire; Paterson, McNeill, Kobacki; Smith
We say: Grimsby Town 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Neither side have had the best start to their respective seasons, both winning two and losing two of their four matches, but with the visitors playing two leagues higher than the hosts, a victory for Sheffield Wednesday is anticipated.
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