The Mariners return to Blundell Park this Saturday afternoon as Town welcome Northampton Town in Sky Bet League Two action.
David Artell’s side will be looking to bounce back from three consecutive league defeats and return to winning ways in front of the home supporters, while the Cobblers travel to Cleethorpes aiming to improve their position in the league table.
Christy Pym and David Artell have both spoken ahead of the fixture, with the Mariners looking to rediscover the intensity and quality that characterised their early-season performances.
You can watch David Artell’s pre-match interview here:
You can watch Christy Pym’s pre-match interview here:
The Opposition
Northampton Town currently sit 23rd in Sky Bet League Two, having collected seven points from their opening eight league fixtures.
The Cobblers endured a difficult 2025/26 campaign, finishing 24th in League One and suffering relegation to the fourth tier. They had spent the previous three seasons in League One, having secured promotion from League Two in 2022/23 after finishing third.
Northampton’s recent form has been challenging. They suffered a 2-0 away defeat against Shrewsbury Town on 12th September before losing 1-0 at home against Rotherham United on 19th September. Their most recent outing saw them draw 1-1 away at York City, with Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh finding the net.
The Cobblers have scored just four league goals this season, the joint-lowest total in League Two, and their tally is their joint-lowest after eight games of a Football League campaign, matching their record from 1976/77.
Northampton are managed by Chris Hogg, who was appointed on 18th May 2026, with former Mariners player and assistant manager Chris Doig joining him as his assistant.
Hogg began his playing career in the Ipswich Town ranks before moving to Hibernian, where he made 173 appearances and won the Scottish League Cup in 2007. He was also named Hibernian’s Player of the Year for the 2007/08 season.
Following spells with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Needham Market, Hogg moved into coaching, working with Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, MK Dons, Oxford United, Bristol City and Norwich City.
He now faces the task of guiding Northampton back towards the top end of League Two following their relegation from the third tier.
Mariners’ Start
Town return to Blundell Park looking to halt a run of three consecutive league defeats.
The Mariners were beaten 2-1 by Newport County before suffering a 2-1 home defeat against Shrewsbury Town. Last weekend, Town fell to a 1-0 loss away at Port Vale, despite another impressive performance from goalkeeper Christy Pym.
David Artell’s side currently sit 11th in League Two, with 13 points from their opening eight matches. Town have scored 13 league goals, although they have created opportunities for considerably more.
The Mariners have registered an expected goals total of 19.1, meaning their actual goal tally is 6.1 below that figure. This is the second-largest underperformance in front of goal in the division, behind only Port Vale – something David Artell’s side will want to rectify tomorrow.
Town will be looking to turn those opportunities into goals on Saturday, while rediscovering the pressing intensity, competitiveness and composure in possession that have been key to their best performances.
Christy Pym believes the squad have the quality to respond, highlighting the importance of winning individual battles, competing for second balls and then allowing their ability on the ball to come through.
With the Mariners back on home soil, Saturday presents an opportunity to respond positively and reward the supporters with an improved performance.
Head-to-Head
Saturday’s fixture will be the 43rd competitive meeting between Grimsby Town and Northampton Town.
The Cobblers hold the advantage in the historical record, having recorded 18 victories to the Mariners’ 14, while 10 encounters have ended in draws.
The clubs first met in the FA Cup First Round on 9th January 1915, when Northampton recorded a 3-0 victory. They met again in the old Division Three during the 1920/21 season, with both sides claiming home victories.
Town’s most recent home victory over Northampton in the league came on 11th October 1997, when Kevin Donovan’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 win.
However, the Cobblers have enjoyed their visits to Blundell Park in more recent years, remaining unbeaten across their last six away Football League matches against the Mariners, recording three wins and three draws since that 1997 defeat.
Town will be looking to end that run and record successive EFL victories against Northampton for the first time since April 1979.
Last Time We Met
The most recent meeting between the two sides came on Saturday 18th February 2023, when the Mariners travelled to Sixfields and secured a memorable 2-1 victory.
Northampton took the lead through Sam Hoskins, but Town fought back, with Luke Waterfall heading home an equaliser before Anthony Glennon struck a stoppage-time winner to complete the comeback.
The victory gave the Mariners all three points in a hard-fought encounter and remains their most recent league win against the Cobblers.
The sides had previously met at Blundell Park on 6th August 2022, playing out a 1-1 draw.
Northampton’s last victory at Blundell Park came on 29th February 2020, when goals from Callum Morton and Charlie Goode contributed to a 3-0 win for the visitors.
Ones to Watch
Jon Guthrie
Northampton captain Jon Guthrie brings considerable experience and a commanding presence to the heart of the Cobblers’ defence.
The 34-year-old centre-back is in his sixth season with the club, having joined from Scottish side Livingston in 2021. Standing at 6ft 3in, Guthrie offers a significant aerial threat at both ends of the pitch and is an important organiser for the visitors.
Guthrie began his career with Wessex League side Pewsey Vale before earning a move to Crewe Alexandra, where he made 137 appearances. He later spent two seasons with Walsall, making a further 101 appearances before moving to Scotland.
His first season at Northampton proved particularly productive, scoring eight goals in 50 appearances across all competitions in 2021/22. His performances earned him places in both the PFA League Two Team of the Year and the League Two Team of the Year, before he helped the Cobblers secure promotion in 2022/23.
A natural leader with experience of promotion campaigns, Guthrie will be looking to help Northampton keep the Mariners’ attacking players at bay.
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh
One of Northampton’s promising young talents is midfielder Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, who joined the Cobblers from Southampton for an undisclosed fee in August 2026.
The 21-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international began his career with Fermoy FC before progressing through Cork City’s academy and breaking into their first team. He moved to Southampton in January 2024, featuring regularly for the club’s Premier League 2 side as he continued his development.
O’Brien-Whitmarsh also gained senior experience during a loan spell with Accrington Stanley in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring three goals in 13 appearances. He has represented the Republic of Ireland from Under-15 to Under-21 level, collecting 12 international caps.
The midfielder has already made an impact at Northampton, scoring the winner against Newport County in September before finding the net again in the Cobblers’ recent draw away at York City.
His ability to contribute goals from midfield makes him one for the Mariners to watch as they look to contain the visitors’ attacking threat.
The Numbers
- Saturday’s fixture will be the 43rd competitive meeting between Grimsby Town and Northampton Town.
- Northampton lead the head-to-head record, with 18 victories to Town’s 14, while 10 matches have ended in draws.
- Town’s last league victory over Northampton came in February 2023, when Anthony Glennon scored a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 away victory.
- The Mariners are looking to record successive EFL wins against the Cobblers for the first time since April 1979.
- Northampton are unbeaten in their last six away Football League matches against Town, recording three wins and three draws.
- Town sit 11th in League Two with 13 points from eight matches, while Northampton are 23rd with seven points.
- The Mariners have scored 13 league goals this season, against an expected goals total of 19.1.
- Northampton have scored just four league goals, the joint-lowest total in League Two.
- Northampton finished 24th in League One last season, resulting in relegation to League Two.
- Jon Guthrie is in his sixth season with Northampton, having joined the club in 2021.
- Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh scored in Northampton’s most recent fixture, a 1-1 draw away at York City.
Match Officials
Martin Woods will take charge of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two fixture between Grimsby Town and Northampton Town at Blundell Park, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Woods will be assisted by Aaron Hallam and Bradley Hall, while Dan England has been appointed as the fourth official.
During the 2026/27 season, Woods has officiated six matches across all competitions, issuing 29 yellow cards and two red cards, while awarding three penalties.
Last season, he took charge of 33 matches across various competitions, showing 122 yellow cards and four red cards, and awarding 10 penalties.
His League Two appointments in 2025/26 included 11 matches, during which he issued 39 yellow cards, two red cards and awarded two penalties.
Woods’ most recent match involving the Mariners came on 15th November 2025, when Town suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Chesterfield in Sky Bet League Two.
UTM
