Tomorrow afternoon Rovers take on Grimsby Town at Blundell Park for what will be the 37th league meeting between the sides with Rovers having won 14 of the previous 36 encounters, Grimsby 13 with the remaining nine games ending all square. Rovers have scored 55 goals while Grimsby have scored four more.
We’ve not forgotten that there were also two Conference League games played between the sides in 2014/15. These two meetings saw the sides play out a goalless draw on the opening day of the season at The Mem, while Rovers were 1-0 winners in the return fixture at Blundell Park.
The last time we met Grimsby was at the end of that season, when we were penalty shootout winners in the Wembley play off final.
Prior to that season our last meetings were back in 2006/07 when we were 1-0 winners at The Mem and Grimsby 4-3 winners at Blundell Park.
On the managerial front, Rovers former Director of Football Lennie Lawrence had a spell as Grimsby manager, Ian Holloway has managed both clubs and former Rovers defender Marcus Bignot was also manager at Blundell Park for a short time.
Bobby Williams, Alan Routledge, Luke Basford, Matt Somner and Byron Anthony all made their Rovers league debut against Grimsby.
Kamil Conteh is one of a handful of players to have played for both sides and the current Rovers midfielder is likely to face his former club tomorrow. Craig Disley, Andy Tillson, Bradley Allen, Craig Armstrong and Kyle Bennett have also played in the blue and white quarters and the black and white stripes.
Grimsby are unbeaten in the league this season, having won three and drawn two of their five league games to date, which sees them in fourth place in the current League Two table. In midweek, of course, they were penalty shootout winners against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and they have been drawn away to Sheffield Wednesday in the next round.
Rovers, of course, were also involved in a penalty shootout against a Premier League club this week, albeit an U-21 side, as they overcame Tottenham Hotspurs young charges in the Vertu Trophy.
Rovers have taken four points from their last two league games and kept clean sheets in both, against Oldham Athletic and Cambridge United respecyively, and will be looking to build on that tomorrow after making the long trip to Cleethorpes.
‘We’ve got to continue to do that,’ said Darrell Clarke, adding; ‘It’s going to be a good test against a free scoring team in Grimsby this weekend. They’ve been high up on the expected goals, touches in the box, so we’re going to have to train really well to try and get our third clean sheet.
‘I think it’s been two or three years since the club’s had three clean sheets in a league game, so that’s a little bit of a target for the boys to aim at on Saturday, and you know we’re going to have be at our best to keep a clean sheet there.’
It will be a tough match, of that there is no doubt, bur we wish Darrell and his team a successful journey and hope all Gasheads enjoy a safe trip to and from Blundell Park.
UTG
