Tomorrow evening sees Crewe Alexandra head to Grimsby Town for the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup.
Last Season:
Last season saw Town finish in 6th place in the National League with 23 wins, 8 draws and 13 defeats. They beat Notts County and Wrexham in the first couple of play-off rounds before defeating Solihull Moors at Wembley, all 3 won in extra time.
They lost to Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup 1st Round.
Transfers:
This summer has seen the club make 10 signings, 7 permanent as well as 2 season-long loan deals and one loan until January. Defenders Anthony Glennon, Niall Maher and loanee Andy Smith have joined as well as midfielders Otis Khan, Stephen Wearne, Kieran Green, Bryn Morris and Brendan Kiernan (the loan until January) while forwards Danilo Orsi and James McAtee (who left permanently and rejoined on loan for the season) complete the signings.
They have allowed 13 players to leave the club permanently.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 25
Grimsby Wins: 25
Draws: 11
Biggest Alex Win: 5-0 at Gresty Road in February 2017
Biggest Grimsby Win: 5-0 at Abbey Park in December 1894
Last Meeting:
Grimsby Town 0-2 Crewe Alexandra, 7th September 2019
Tom Lowery opened the scoring in the opening minute of the second half with Charlie Kirk adding the second in stoppage-time.
Crewe: Richards; Ng, Lancashire, Nolan, Pickering; Lowery, Wintle, Green; Powell, Porter (Anene 82), Kirk (Hunt 90)
Grimsby: McKeown; Hewitt, Waterfall, Ohman, Hendrie (Vernam 88); Cook (Robson 72), Hessenthaler, Whitehouse (Wright 69); Green, Hanson, Ogbu
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Nick Colgan, Dave Felgate, Gary Montgomery, Tom Poskett
Defenders: Paul Bignot, Marlon Broomes, Harry Davis, Darran Kempson, Olly Lancashire, Gregor Robertson
Midfielders: Chris Clements, Paul Holsgrove
Forwards: Dougald Campbell, Colin Cramb, Anthony Elding, Thomas Elliott, Rod Fletcher, Wes Fletcher, Riccardo Gabbiadini, Bill Gardner, Joel Grant, Martin Harris, Billy Haydock, Harry Mellor, Greg Pearson, Jimmy Pennington, George Ratcliffe, Steve Saunders, John Waring, Norman Wright
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with Adam Herczeg the referee, Michael George and Lee Freeman are his assistants with Stephen Wade the fourth official. This is the first Crewe game that Herczeg has refereed.
Opposition View:
I asked Grimsby fan Richard Young for his thoughts going into the game and looking at the season ahead.
How would you describe last season and the first couple of games in this one?
The end of last season was the most incredible few weeks many of us Mariners have ever experienced. We made the National League Play-Offs in the 5th spot which meant we would have to beat two teams away from home just to make the final. In the ‘Quarter Final’, we found ourselves one down against Notts County and somehow managed to equalise with 15 seconds left of the 6 additional minutes.
Then with penalties looming, with just 90 seconds remaining of extra time, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in his own words on BT Sport ‘just f**king threw himself’ at a cross and we won to face a trip 5 days late to Hollywood FC (aka Wrexham).
I could talk all day about Wrexham away but would implore anybody to watch the highlights on YouTube. The most incredible game of football you’re ever likely to see. An absolute rollercoaster of a game which aged me horrendously by the time it was over. But somehow with another 118th-minute goal, Grimsby won 5-4 and we took our momentum to the Olympic Stadium 8 days later to beat Solihull Moors 2 – 1 in the Play-Off final and return to the EFL at the first time of asking.
Our first game away at Orient this season was tough. With the playoff final being on June 5th, we’ve had at least 2 weeks less pre-season then most teams and as the game went on, the difference in fitness levels showed and ultimately came up short. Saturday against Northampton was much better and we were unlucky not to take all 3 points against one of the fancied teams in the division.
Striker, without a doubt. At the moment we are down to 1 half-fit 34-year-old forward in Ryan Taylor (who missed the majority of pre-season due to injury) and a first-year pro in Edwin Essell. John Mcatee is out with a shoulder injury he first sustained last season and actually dislocated within 10 seconds of the first game of the season (he popped it back in and played on). Though it does seem that Luton’s new Canadian striker Aribim Pepple (who they only signed last week) is about to sign on loan for the season (he was sat in the stands on Saturday watching the game). This is part of the deal that has seen McAtee sold to Luton (they have loaned him back to us for the season also).
What do you think the team will be for the game?
Tough one to call due to both injuries and not knowing how seriously we are taking the competition but I’ll go with:
Max Crocombe
Michee Efete
Anthony Glennon
Luke Waterfall
Andy Smith
Bryn Morris
Kieran Green
Gavan Holohan
Brendan Kiernan
Ryan Taylor
Harry Clifton
Who is the danger man for yourselves?
Brendan Kiernan signed on loan from Walsall has looked very lively playing right of the front 3 in the opening two games. Has a good acceleration of pace and has a trick or two up his sleeve.
What is the target for this season from here?
If we can keep mid-table until around January, I honestly think we could make a late push for the playoffs. But a top-half finish would be deemed a real success.
