Perhaps a welcome break from league football as Grimsby Town & Manchester City U21 face off to decide who makes it to next stage of the EFL Trophy. All the pre-match information is available here!
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Grimsby Town and Manchester City U21.
Grimsby Town form and stats
Last season their EFL Trophy adventure ended in the 2nd round.Grimsby Town have secured 5 points from their first three home games in the League Two. A decent catch, still with room for improvement.
Grimsby Town shared the glory with Walsall in their last match, an away game that ended all square 1-1. The home side have an in-form goalscorer in Eisa, having scored in three consecutive matches. Defender Rodgers got the top score of the team in the match with a rating of 7.85/10. Rodgers won 6 of 9 duels.
Before that, Grimsby drew at home versus Mansfield Town.This is expected to be a close game, with Grimsby Town perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Grimsby Town as a small favourite), we find 12 games. Grimsby Town has won 6 of these, drawn 3 and lost 3.
Another home game is coming up fairly shortly for the hosts, as Gillingham are coming to town in four days.
Grimsby Town have showed great defending skills in these home games, allowing the opposition to score only {1 goals}.
Manchester City U21 form and stats
They also participated in EFL Trophy last season. This ended in the group stage.The story so far for the visiting team on their Premier League 2 Division One travels is 0 wins, 0 draws and 1 defeat.
There were no winners in Manchester's previous match, the home game that ended 4-4 vs Aston Villa U21. The match against Aston Villa U21 looked like a defeat for Manchester City U21, but they did not accept the outcome and clawed their way back to 4-4. Alfa-Ruprecht equalized in the 89th minute. As mentioned above, Manchester City U21 drew the match against Aston Villa U21. Manager Barry-Murphy brought on Alfa-Ruprecht to rescue the draw from a losing position and it worked.
Prior to that match, the Manchester manager Barry-Murphy faced defeat when travelling to Fulham U21 and losing 1-2.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Manchester City U21 playing away and similar expectations, we found 4 relevant matches. Results were {2 Manchester City U21 wins}, 0 draws and 2 defeats.
Manchester have another game that requires travelling in just four days, a Premier League 2 Division One fixture vs Newcastle United U21. A difficult timetable for the guests!
{1 goals} so far away for Manchester City U21, while their defence has allowed the opposition to score 2. All from 1 league match away.
Head 2 Head
Top Goalscorers
  A. Eisa 4 goals |  T. Sodje 2 goals |
Grimsby Town missing players
Manchester City U21 missing players
| Grimsby Town | Manchester City U21 | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 10 | Played | P | 14 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 5 | Won | W | 8 | 15 | ||
| 7 | 4 | Drew | D | 3 | 5 | ||
| 9 | 1 | Lost | L | 3 | 5 | ||
| 30 | 12 | Scored | S | 39 | 76 | ||
| 33 | 7 | Conceded | C | 19 | 40 | ||
| 92% | 90% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 93% | 96% | ||
| 76% | 70% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 93% | 96% | ||
| 32% | 10% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 86% | 92% | ||
| 24% | 10% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 57% | 72% | ||
| 24% | 10% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 36% | 48% | ||
| 48% | 40% | BTTS | BTTS | 71% | 68% | ||
| 32% | 60% | Clean Sheets | C S | 29% | 28% | ||
| 28% | 10% | Failed to Score | F T | 7% | 8% | ||
| 4.8 | 3.7 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5.5 | 5 | ||
| 5.4 | 6.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.4 | 3.6 | ||
| 1.6 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.4 | 1.6 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | ||
| 11.5 | 12.3 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 11.4 | 11.8 | ||
| 3.9 | 3.7 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.7 | 6 | ||
| 31% | 32% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 49% | 51% | ||
| 10.6 | 11.1 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 8.8 | 9.1 | ||
| 3.9 | 3.1 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.8 | 4 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Barnsley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Bradford City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Grimsby Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Manchester City U21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Milton Keynes Dons | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 12 |
| 2 | Gillingham | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Accrington Stanley | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 4 | Notts County | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| 5 | AFC Wimbledon | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| 6 | Newport County | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 9 |
| 7 | Mansfield Town | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 8 | Swindon Town | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | Barrow | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 10 | Salford City | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| 11 | Morecambe | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -1 | 7 |
| 12 | Bradford City | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -2 | 7 |
| 13 | Crawley Town | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -5 | 7 |
| 14 | Crewe Alexandra | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 15 | Grimsby Town | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Wrexham | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Harrogate Town | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| 18 | Walsall | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -2 | 5 |
| 19 | Stockport County | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 20 | Forest Green Rovers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -5 | 4 |
| 21 | Tranmere Rovers | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 22 | Colchester United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 23 | Sutton United | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 24 | Doncaster Rovers | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -8 | 1 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Tottenham U21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 9 |
| 2 | Fulham U21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 3 | Reading U21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | Liverpool U21 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | Arsenal U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Brighton U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | West Ham United U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Leeds United U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | West Brom U21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 10 | Nottingham Forest U21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough U21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 12 | Sunderland U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | Norwich City U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 4 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | -2 | 4 |
| 15 | Manchester United U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| 16 | Chelsea U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Newcastle United U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 18 | Southampton U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 19 | Crystal Palace U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 3 |
| 20 | Leicester U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
| 21 | Stoke City U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | -10 | 3 |
| 22 | Derby County U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
| 23 | Aston Villa U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | -5 | 1 |
| 24 | Manchester City U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -6 | 1 |
| 25 | Everton U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | -8 | 1 |
| 26 | Wolves U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
- Grimsby Town
- Grimsby Telegraph - (local newspaper)
- The Fishy - (supporter site)
- Cod almighty - (supporter fanzine)
