Grimsby Town can match their longest home unbeaten run in League Two this season when they host Harrogate Town on Saturday at Blundell Park.
Last weekend, the Mariners came back to claim a 1-1 draw with Newport County, dropping them down to 18th, three points behind the Sulphurites, who are 16th after defeating Notts County 3-1.
Match preview
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Over the past month and a half, Grimsby have not hurt their survival chances in League Two, but have yet to help themselves in the table as well.
The club based in Cleethorpes have not lost a domestic encounter since late October (1-0 at Doncaster Rovers), winning just two league fixtures from the beginning of November until now.
Their 2-1 victory over Crew Alexandra earlier this month stretched their unbeaten run at home to three successive matches in this competition, claiming 18 of their 24 points this season at Blundell Park.
The Mariners are undefeated in league play since David Artell took charge in late November, equalising six minutes after going behind to Newport County last Saturday, claiming a third successive away point in League Two.
Artell likes to attack down the wings and play with width, and they have the personnel to do that successfully, given their strength in the air.
Throughout the campaign, Grimsby Town are struggling to maintain their advantages, failing to win eight domestic contests in 2023-24 when scoring first, dropping 19 points as a result.
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Harrogate Town quickly took the lead after seven minutes last weekend, going on to claim their seventh victory of the domestic campaign.
Five of those triumphs took place away from home, with Simon Weaver's men claiming 27 points after 21 matchdays this season, five more than they had at this same stage of the 2022-23 League Two campaign.
Only one of their five away victories this season have come against sides currently in the top half of the table, defeating MK Dons 1-0 in late September.
One of the biggest Grimsby weaknesses is arguably the biggest strength for Harrogate, with the North Yorkshire side unbeaten domestically in 2023-24 when scoring the opening goal.
They find themselves in 16th place heading into their final domestic away fixture this year, but only three points separate them from MK Dons in 11th, while they trail Wimbledon by only five points for a promotional playoff spot.
The Sulphurites have never lost a League Two encounter versus Grimsby, winning three of the four domestic meetings against them while holding them to a 0-0 draw in their previous visit to Blundell Park a season ago.
Team News
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Charles Vernam returned to training for Grimsby a few days ago but did not play last Saturday due to a thigh issue, while Rekeil Pyke and Donovan Wilson were also out with knocks.
Danny Rose scored six minutes after his side went behind versus Newport County for his team-leading seventh goal of the League Two campaign.
The emergency loan signing James Belshaw was in the Harrogate town starting 11 over the weekend, while Rob McDonald is still dealing with an injury.
Leading goalscorer George Thomson put his side ahead last weekend, his seventh of the season, with Abraham Odoh netting his second of 2023-24 and Matt Daly scoring for the third time, moving into a tie with Jack Muldoon for second on the team.
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Cartwright; Mullarkey, Rodgers, Maher, Glennon; Holohan, Clifton; Gnahoua, Green, Eisa; Rose
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Foulds, Burrell, O'Connor, Gibson; Dooley, Cornelius, M. Daly, Thomson; Odoh, Muldoon
We say: Grimsby Town 1-0 Harrogate Town
This should be a close affair, but we are giving the home side the edge because they have been more consistent and have a little more quality in the attacking third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
