In a game which can only be described as a six-pointer, Grimsby Town host Forest Green Rovers at Blundell Park.
Separated by just three points currently, this a matchup which has severe implications on the fight for relegation. One of, if not both teams could go down this season, and this will be a game which would’ve no doubt been highlighted a couple of weeks ago.
Despite sitting in 23rd, directly behind Grimsby, it is Forest Green who come into this in far better form. Over the last five games, Steve Cotterill’s side have picked up a more-than respectable seven points and have shown that they are not going to go down without a fight. In turn they’ve pulled themselves off of the bottom and are in touching distance of safety.
In that same spell, the Mariners have picked up just two points and are in fact winless since the turn of the New Year. This would be the ideal game to get back to winning ways however that is no given.
Grimsby are the better rested of the two having not played in midweek, but Forest Green’s performance during the week could certainly worry them. Rovers would manage to hold high-flyers Wrexham to a 1-1 draw, and looked set to gain all three points until a stoppage time penalty for their opponents.
Here’s how two of The Real EFL’s writing team see the game playing out…
“I don’t want to make this too longwinded and that’s simply down to the fact that I’m confident that Forest Green Rovers will take all three point from this.
Their recent form is far better than that of Grimsby’s and despite the Mariners potentially being better rested, Forest Green have lots of positives to take from their game with Wrexham.
Although they couldn’t quite see that one out, it was a far better performance than one that is expected from a team in 23rd. This is a huge game in the relegation fight. I’m expecting goals and the home side to relatively easily beat their opponents here.
Grimsby Town 1-4 Forest Green Rovers
“We talk about six-pointers all the time. Games that could mean something if results don’t change. Games that are actually more pivotal for one team than another. But this fixture is absolutely massive for both team’s chances of survival in League Two this season. Forest Green Rovers are currently sat in the bottom two but with a recent run of positive form, including a midweek draw against promotion hopefuls Wrexham, they are beginning to dream that they can pull in those above them. One of those sides of course being Grimsby.
When the Mariners brought in David Artell, many, myself included, thought it was a solid appointment and he could help them climb the league. That has not gone to plan, and coming into this, they have failed to win in 2024. With that, I struggle to see them getting a victory again here, however, although Forest Green have improved, I doubt they’ve improved enough to make this a comfortable victory for them.
Grimsby Town 1-1 Forest Green Rovers
Senior Editor
