MATCH PREVIEW: Grimsby Town
Last updated : 02 October 2009 By Jaybee
Tomorrow afternoon, Barnet entertain Grimsby Town at Underhill in a League Two match. Barnet's win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night kept the Bees in 8th place and they are only two points behind Rochdale in 2nd place. It's very tight at the top. On Wednesday night, Grimsby lost 3-2 at Chesterfield. However, the Mariners made a brave comeback from being 3-0 down at one point. Adam Proudlock and Peter Sweeney scored two terrific goals but it was just not enough for the Mariners to take anything from the game. It was Grimsby's first defeat since losing 4-0 to Port Vale at the beginning of September.
However, Grimsby are 21st in the table, just 3 points above the relegation zone and after last season's near miss, they will be anxious to pull away from the bottom of the table as soon as possible. The Mariners, who are managed by Mike Newell, have got just 10 points from 10 matches with just 3 wins, 1 draw and six defeats so far. Two of those wins though have come away from home; 1-0 at Bury in August and 2-0 at fellow strugglers, Torquay United last month. Grimsby's only win at Blundell Park this season was a 1-0 victory over Hereford United.
Grimsby were relegated to League Two in 2004 and this is their sixth season in the basement division of the Football League. The Mariners have struggled in four out of five of the last five seasons and would have been relegated to the Blue Square Premier last season but for Luton Town's 30 points deduction.
However, in 2005/06 they finished 4th and made the play-offs. They defeated local rivals, Lincoln City in the semi finals and were favourites to win the play off final against Cheltenham Town at Cardiff, but lost the match, and with it promotion to League One, 1-0. Manager, Russell Slade left and the club lost a number of players as a consequence of failing to go up and the club have struggled in League Two ever since.
During the summer, Grimsby made a number of signings including midfield player, Michael Leary who had been released by the Bees at the end of last season. In goal, Newell has signed the veteran former Chelsea keeper, Nick Colgan, while in defence the experienced Paul Linwood has arrived from Chester and Joe Widdowson, who had been on loan from West Ham, signed permanently for the Mariners.
Like the Bees, Grimsby have signed players who have been previously on loan with them, as with Widdowson. Barry Conlon, who made a big impact on loan from Bradford City last season has joined, as have fellow strikers, Adrian Forbes, from Millwall and Adam Proudlock from Darlington. Another former loannee is Peter Sweeney who has arrived from Leeds United.
Barnet are likely to be unchanged from the side that defeated Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday with no injury worries and a full fit squad for once. Grimsby are likely to be without defender, Robbie Stockdale for another three weeks with a groin strain and manager, Mike Newell will have to decide whether or not to make any changes to the side that lost at Chesterfield.
Obviously, given the two team's respective positions, Barnet will be expected to comfortably win the match tomorrow, but how often, in the past, have we beaten a top side only to go and lose the next match to a side who is struggling. At this stage of the season, the league table is quite fluid anyway and it would be a mistake to take anything for granted. Not that I think for one moment that Ian Hendon would do that anyway!!
Barnet have never beaten Grimsby town at Underhill, though they came very close last season with only a spectacular Adrian Forbes goal grabbing a point for the Mariners. Despite some reservations and partly because of the return to the defence of Gary Breen, Barnet Mad is predicting a win for the Bees tomorrow with possibly another clean sheet. However, the Bees will have to keep an eye on the visitors' long distance shots judging by their midweek goals at Chesterfield. Anyway, we will go for a 2-0 home win.
(Many thanks to the Grimsby Town fans on the Grimsby Town FC Forum for their help with some of the information in this match preview.)
