After a dismal run of form through November and December, Grimsby Town are back in the League Two promotion conversation following a seven game unbeaten run which saw the Mariners keep six clean sheets.
Currently sitting ninth in League Two and five points adrift of the play-off positions, there is a rediscovered enthusiasm surrounding Grimsby following their recent resurgence.
Starting the 2025-26 season well and shocking the world with the giant-killing of Manchester United back in August, many were impressed by the team’s progressive playstyle under David Artell. However, the early winter months saw a drop in form, where oftentimes performances did not quite match the results, but concern was rightly raised after going two months without a win.
Approaching a potentially defining week, the Mariners next three league fixtures will see them face league strugglers Newport County, an impressive Accrington Stanley and direct promotion rivals Walsall, with a visit from Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers inbetween.
However, confidence is high and many believe the Mariners have found a new depth of adaptability in their performances, something that lacked during their drop in form. But the question remains, can the Mariners continue this form and achieve promotion?
What Caused Grimsby Town’s Drop In Form?
After a narrow victory over a nine-man Gillingham in October, the team embarked on a run of over two months without a league victory, their next coming on the 29th of December over Shrewsbury Town.
Most performances remained relatively strong, but results were defined by individual mistakes.
Notably, a strong opening sixty minutes against Chesterfield became undone by a lapse in judgement which saw Christy Pym sent off, which ultimately changed the dynamic of the game after the Mariners failed to capitalise on a largely dominant start.
Chances missed at home to Tranmere were particularly costly, after Kristian Dennis’ stoppage time effort wrapped up the three points for the away side.
Meanwhile, performances away at Shrewsbury Town and Bromley saw the team look a shadow of the team that started the season, devoid of confidence.
This period raised a feeling of naivety towards the squad. Where some performances were strong but mistakes in both boxes were eventually decisive. The Mariners had scored fifty goals in all competitions, but inconsistencies made the team appear toothless up front, Jaze Kabia’s drop in form was significant, as the summer recruit went over three months without a league goal despite an impressive start to the campaign.
What Changed for The Mariners?
The club’s upturn in form began on the 29th of December, when Justin Amaluzor’s late effort proved decisive against Shrewsbury. However, victory away at Fleetwood Town on New Years Day marked an upturn in adaptability and performance.
An ‘uglier’ match, the Mariners were largely in control and created the better chances, eventually reaping the rewards after Kabia’s late header secured the three points.
Clean sheets in narrow games had become a habit, with wins over Barnet, Cheltenham Town and Colchester United, the squad appear to have found different ways of winning, without necessarily showing the levels of attacking performance fans know they are capable of.
As previously mentioned, naivety in both boxes was a defining feature throughout their drop in form, but these problems were solved through the signings of on-loan shot-stopped Jackson Smith, and proven talisman Andy Cook.
While Andy Cook is yet to get himself on the scoresheet for the Mariners, his physicality and presence in the box, matched up with impressive hold-up play has brought a new side out of Kabia – their strike partnership impressed against MK Dons with the striker scoring a second-half brace to secure a point.
Meanwhile, their run of clean sheets is a credit to Smith, who has instilled confidence in the backline with some impressive saves and assurance from crosses.
Grimsby Town’s Performance Metrics (League Two)
- Average possession: 57.7% (3rd)
- Clean sheets: 10 (4th)
- xG: 43.7 (5th) / Actual: 41
- Big chances missed: 53 (3rd)
- Saves Per Match: 2 (24th)
- xG conceded: 30.4 (4th) / Actual: 32
(Source: FotMob)
Individual mistakes in both boxes are suggested by these statistics. Showing an underperformance in both goals scored and conceded.
A change in goalkeeper and the introduction of Andy Cook has shown that Artell has sought to address this, which has been met with success thus far.
Additionally, the returns of Jayden Sweeney and Sam Lavelle have been helpful, offering different options in the backline, which is particularly helpful for a side that tends to dominate possession.
Could Grimsby Town Lift Promotion?
This run of form has seen the Mariners remain far from their best in terms of consistent chance creation and persistent control, but the decisiveness required to win matches in League Two has increased massively.
Cook appears yet to reach full match fitness, which begs the question over how to accommodate what appears to be an effective striker partnership with Kabia when Artell has predominantly set up in a 4-3-3 system.
Statistics describe that the Mariners are one of the better sides in the division, and should they reach their previously shown performance levels and match that with the recent ruthlessness shown, they are more than capable of making a charge towards the promotion spots.
As previously mentioned, the coming week is pivotal with the club facing opposition from differing thirds of the table, which will ask serious questions of Artell’s approach and adaptability. But a positive points return could see the club climb into the play-off positions.
Meanwhile, they are still yet to play the entire current top seven in the division, leaving this season’s prospects in their own hands.
Top three would likely require perfection between now and the end of the season, but they have shown capable of competing against anyone in the division.
Play-offs is a more likely outcome, and their upcoming league fixture against Walsall could be crucial for their chances.
Ultimately, Grimsby Town are a progressive club with a solid identity and recent weeks have shown they discovered a depth of guile guile in a ruthless division. Artell’s playstyle is one suited to a sustained run of form, but their current form will need to continue while the gap between themselves and seventh remains at five points.
The ownership prioritises steady improvement over rigidly set goals, but after a ninth-place finish last season, ‘improvement’ likely points towards finishing in the top seven.
Grimsby Town’s Upcoming Fixtures:
- 07/02, Newport County (A)- League Two
- 11/02, Accrington Stanley (H) – League Two
- 15/02, Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) – FA Cup
- 18/02, Walsall (H) – League Two
- 21/02, Bristol Rovers (A) – League Two
- 28/02, Notts County (A) – League Two