Crewe Alexandra host Grimsby Town at Mornflake Stadium in a crunch showdown in the race for 2024-25 League Two Play-Offs.
Victory could see Crewe climb to eighth if better Colchester’s result elsewhere, whilst Grimsby will stay seventh regardless of the result.
Team News
Crewe have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 1-0 home loss to Port Vale last weekend.
James Connolly (hamstring) is nearing a first-team return but Charlie Finney (hamstring), Nathan Robinson (knee) and Shilow Tracey (leg) remain absent.
Grimsby have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-1 victory away to Colchester.
When is Kick-Off?
Crewe Alexandra host Grimsby at Mornflake Stadium on Tuesday 1 April at 7:45pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Crewe Alexandra have won one of their last six meetings against Grimsby in all competitions (W1, L5).
- Grimsby have won just two of their last 10 visits to Crewe (W2, D2, L6).
- Victory would see Crewe achieve their first league double over Grimsby in a single season for the first time since 2016-17 campaign – which saw them win 2-0 away then 5-0 at home that season.
- Out of the top 15 teams in League Two coming into this matchweek, no team has scored fewer goals than Crewe (45).
- Grimsby have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four away games (W3, D1), during which they scored eight goals and conceded four goals.
Prediction
Currently four points off their visitors who occupy the last play-off spot, this game now surely feels like do-or-die for Crewe’s play-off ambitions because if they lose this then a seven-point gap will be difficult to overturn in their final six games after a wasteful defeat to Port Vale.
Grimsby meanwhile know that a win here coupled with defeat for Colchester elsewhere would put the final play-off spot in their own hands, especially after they produced a clinically dominant win at the Us’ last weekend which will give them proper belief that they can deal a huge blow to another of their play-off rivals.
Nevertheless I do expect this to be very close given that Crewe know how to grind out points when needed but with Grimsby hitting form at the right time, I fancy the Mariners to nick this.
Prediction: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Grimsby
Result: Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Grimsby