In the race for the League Two playoffs, in-form Grimsby Town are set to host managerless Tranmere Rovers at Blundell Park on Tuesday.
The Mariners will be looking to make it five wins from six in midweek, while Rovers will be desperate for points as the threat of relegation gets closer.
Match preview
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David Artell's Grimsby are on a six-game unbeaten streak that includes four wins and two draws after a difficult start to 2025 in which they failed to win any of their first five fixtures.
Last time out, the Mariners' four-game winning run was ended when they played out 1-1 draw away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, though it is commendable that they came from behind to earn a point through a Harvey Rodgers's second-half strike.
That stalemate left Artell's side eighth in the fourth tier, three points behind seventh-placed Crewe Alexandra in the playoff spots with 13 games to go.
On Tuesday, the hosts will feel that they have a golden opportunity to make up the ground on their promotion rivals by taking all three points against a relegation-threatened side, especially considering that they are unbeaten at Blundell Park since December, having won four and drawn two of their six home matches in that period.
In the reverse fixture, Grimsby walked away 1-0 winners back in October, and a repeat of that result would put serious pressure on the clubs in the hunt for the playoffs.
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Meanwhile, coach Andy Crosby has taken interim charge of Tranmere after the club parted ways with Nigel Adkins late last month, with the team on a 10-game winless run in League Two.
Crosby oversaw his first clash as boss on Saturday, and watched on as his side followed up consecutive losses against Accrington Stanley and Notts County with a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Port Vale.
That stalemate left Rovers 22nd in the table, four points behind 21st-placed Accrington and just three points ahead of both Morecambe and a renewed Carlisle United in the relegation zone.
To make matters worse, Crosby's team will be playing away from home in midweek, and their record of 10 successive losses on the road leading up to Tuesday's clash suggests that the visitors are likely to struggle once again against Grimsby.
On the other hand, with a different manager in the dugout, and a draw against another promotion hopeful under their belt from last time out, Tranmere could come into the game with some small hope of avoiding defeat.
Team News
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Grimsby midfielder Kieran Green was taken off with an injury late in his side's clash with Cheltenham, and he may not be ready to take part in midweek.
In his absence, Callum Ainley could make the XI after featuring on the bench last time out, and he would start behind strikers Darragh Burns and Danny Rose if selected by Artell.
Wing-backs Denver Hume and Jason Dadi Svanthorsson will provide width for the Mariners, while George McEachran and Evan Khouri patrol the middle third.
As for Tranmere, they will be missing centre-back Connor Wood after he was sent off late against Port Vale.
In his stead, Tom Davies is likely to captain Rovers from the middle of a back three, flanked by Lee O'Connor and Jordan Turnbull in front of goalkeeper Luke McGee.
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Wright; Rodgers, Tharme, McJannett; Svanthorsson, McEachran, Khouri, Hume; Ainley; Burns, Rose
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; O'Connor, Davies, Turnbull; Norman, Finley, Merrie, Hendry, Patrick; Hawkes, Dennis
We say: Grimsby Town 2-0 Tranmere Rovers
Grimsby Town have been in excellent form in recent weeks, and their home record in 2025 is particularly formidable.
In contrast, Tranmere are without a permanent manager and have been dire on the road, so expect an 11th consecutive away defeat for Rovers on Tuesday.
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