The Official Grimsby Town Match Thread (Sponsored by one win in 21 visits "for all your "unhappy hunting ground" needs")

After the late late show last time out against Cheltenham, followed by a free midweek, Gills are back in action tomorrow with a lengthy trip to the Lincolnshire coast and a visit to fifth placed Grimsby who sit just one point behind us after 12 games.

There's likely to be one or two faces back in the squad, Andrews from suspension and maybe captain Armani Little returning from injury. Unfortunately, there's still a whole pile of creativity in the treatment room in the shape of Jonny Smith, Garath McCleary and Aaron Rowe, plus long termers Masterson and Euan Williams who remain absent. One area we're not short of bodies is up front, Elliott Nevitt being the final one of our first team strikers to get off the mark in the League this season with his injury time equaliser on Saturday, although only the aforementioned Andrews has scored more than one goal to date. Seb Palmer-Houlden's contributions since his introduction could well earn him a starting spot again, although Nevitt's broken duck will see him seeking a swift return to the first XI.

David Artell's Mariners will be looking to bounce back from a defeat to Col Ewe at Blundell Park last Saturday, their third defeat of the campaign and their second at home. Having opened the season five undefeated, their recent form has been fairly inconsistent, summed up by a 3-0 defeat to Barnet being swiftly followed by a 7-1 win against 9-man Cheltenham, with three defeats from their last seven. They do have goals in the side though, three players are on four or more in the League, summer signing Jaze Kabia on five since his mammoth move north from non-league Truro.

As suggested in the title, the head to head ain't great. Of 42 games played we've won 12 and lost 18 with a dozen draws. Of those 12 wins, only one has come away from home from 21 visits, with just seven draws on our travels since 1921, including our last trip there in January this year. I can't imagine there's too many of the 92 Football League grounds where we have registered a more consistently unimpressive set of results. For the highlights it's the sole win back in 2001, Chris Hope and Marlon King with first half goals in a 1-2 win.

Another Gills army of around 500 is to be expected tomorrow for the 430+ mile, eight-hour round trip, tremendous support yet again for Dobson and the boys as we look to return to winning ways after nearly a month without taking maximum points. It certainly won't be easy, Grimsby, as the home side, will be on the front foot looking to dictate the game, but we always seem to do reasonably well in those circumstances and they have already succumbed to both Bristol Rovers (14th) and Coley (16th), so they're not unbeatable. That said, I'd happily accept a point right now if offered it, please and thank you.

Safe travels if you're making the trip up the A1, here's hoping that the 24 year drought in Cleethorpes ends tomorrow.

Enjoy the game and...

COYG!!!