All you need to know ahead of the Town's trip to Blundell Park
WHO? Grimsby Town, aka, the Mariners. After having joint-managers for the past two-and-a-bit seasons the Mariners axed one – Rob Scott – in August and now Paul Hurst is flying solo.
MAKE A SAVING. Town supporters can pay on the night at Blundell Park BUT can make a small saving by picking up the phone and calling Grimsby direct on 01472 605050. If you do, you’ll have an extra £1.50 in your pocket – that can go towards your fish n chip summer.
HOW TO GET THERE. First thing to remember is that the ground is not actually in Grimsby, but the neighbouring town of Cleethorpes. M1, M18, M180. At the end of the M180 continue along the A180 towards Grimsby and the ground is well-sign posted. For the sat-nav savvy, the postcode for the ground is DN35 7PY.
BLUNDELL BLUES. The Town have a terrible record at Blundell Park over the years, winning just six of their 25 visits – and just two of their last 15 (losing eight of those). The Hatters last won at Blundell Park back in October 2011 thanks to a Tommy Wright header.
NIGHT NIGHT. It’s another Tuesday night trip to Cleethorpes for Hatters fans who may or may not wonder what Blundell Park looks like in daylight. Of the Town’s last nine visits, five have taken place on a Tuesday night, two have taken place on a Friday night and once has been played on a Saturday evening.
RECENT FORM. The Mariners have as many as four games in hand over the club above them in the table in their bid to make the Play-Offs. They’ve lost three of their last eight matches and have won just four times in their last 11 matches. They leapt into the Play-Off places on Saturday after a 1-0 win at fellow promotion rivals Nuneaton but were edged out again on Monday following Halifax’s win over Alfreton.
EX-FACTOR. There will be one former Town man likely to play on Tuesday in the shape of Scott Neilson. Having enjoyed a successful loan spell at Blundell Park last season, the Hatters nabbed him in January on a permanent move. But the spell never worked out and he signed for the Mariners in the summer.
MILESTONES. Ronnie Henry is set to make his 80th appearance for the Town, whilst Steve McNulty is in line to make the 60th appearance of his Hatters career.
AWAY THE LADS. The Town might have lost their unbeaten record against Woking last week but the Hatters still remain unbeaten in 14 matches in the Skrill Premier away from home. It’s been six months since the Hatters last tasted defeat on the road. The record reads played 14, won seven, drawn seven, scored 29, conceded 11.
TEAM NEWS. Town boss John Still may include Matt Robinson after his opening goal against Chester on the weekend having started on the substitutes’ bench. The same could be said of new arrival Luke Rooney and on-loan midfielder Cameron McGeehan who was rested at the weekend. Jonathan Smith, Luke Guttridge and Danny Fitzsimons.
STILL SAYS: “It will be tough, but will it be tougher than Saturday? Will it be tougher than midweek or Monday? Wherever we go and whoever we play at this stage of the season, it’s going to be tough. I can’t remember the last time that I sat here at one of these press conferences where we spoke about a game and I’ve said, that will be easy, we’ll win that comfortably.”
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from Blundell Park. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.