United Preview | Grimsby Away

Next up is Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup

We enter the game having lost one and drawn one in our opening competitive matches.

Author | Liam C

Context

We start our journey towards a seventh tournament victory in our history at Blundell Park in the second round. The most recent of our successes in the competition came in 2023 when we beat Newcastle United in the final.

Team news

Manchester United were without Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martínez in Sunday’s draw at Fulham, with the defender’s recovery from a knee injury still ongoing. An update on Mazraoui’s condition is expected in due course.

Attention will also focus on Benjamin Šeško, who has been limited to substitute appearances so far, and goalkeeper André Onana, who returned from injury to take a place on the bench at Craven Cottage. 

Grimsby, the hosts, have reported a clean bill of health, though manager David Artell is expected to provide an update ahead of kick-off.

A closer look at the opposition

Grimsby approach the midweek fixture buoyed by an unbeaten start to the season across all competitions.

That run includes a first-round victory over Shrewsbury Town at Blundell Park, where goals from Justin Amaluzor, Cameron Gardner, and Jaze Kabia sealed a 3-1 win against their divisional rivals.

Kabia struck again in the Mariners’ most recent outing, a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley in League Two, one of two draws so far this campaign alongside an impressive return of four wins.

Is there history between the two sides?

Clashes between Manchester United and Grimsby are rare, with the most recent taking place more than 75 years ago in March 1948.

That match was the last of only 37 fixtures between the two clubs, a history that began in 1894 when United were still known as Newton Heath.

The head-to-head record is finely balanced, with United claiming 16 wins, Grimsby 15, and six matches ending in draws. The most recent meeting in 1948 finished 1-1.