The Mariners are on the road this evening as Town travel to the Crown Oil Arena to face Rochdale in Sky Bet League Two action.
David Artell’s side will be looking to halt a run of four consecutive league defeats and return to winning ways, while Dale will be aiming to respond after their five-match unbeaten run came to an end against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
With both sides looking to get back on track, the Mariners will be hoping to produce a positive performance in front of the travelling supporters, with kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm.
The Opposition
Rochdale currently sit 13th in Sky Bet League Two, with 14 points from their opening 10 league fixtures, one point and two places above the Mariners.
Rochdale returned to the English Football League this season after securing promotion from the National League via the play-offs, ending a three-year absence from the fourth tier.
Known as ‘The Dale’, the Greater Manchester club finished the 2025/26 campaign with a club-record 106 points before beating Scunthorpe United in the play-off semi-final and overcoming Boreham Wood on penalties in the final to seal their return to League Two.
Founded in 1907, Rochdale have played their home matches at Spotland Stadium since 1920. One of the most notable moments in the club’s history came in 1962, when they reached the League Cup final, becoming the first club from the bottom division to reach the final of a major competition.
The Dale also enjoyed a successful spell in League One between 2010 and 2021, securing promotion to the third tier on three occasions during their history. However, relegation in 2022/23 brought an end to 102 consecutive years in the Football League.
Rochdale are now managed by Ian Watson, who was appointed in the summer following his departure from South Shields. Watson guided the National League North side to second place in 2025/26, accumulating 95 points before reaching the promotion final.
He began his senior coaching career as assistant manager to Mike Williamson at Gateshead, helping the club win the National League North title in 2022, before working alongside him at MK Dons and Carlisle United.
Watson will now be looking to build on Rochdale’s return to the EFL and establish the club back in League Two.
Mariners’ Start
Town travel to Rochdale looking to respond after four consecutive league defeats.
The Mariners began the campaign impressively, going unbeaten across their opening seven league fixtures, recording three victories and four draws. However, a 2-1 defeat away at Newport County in September was followed by further losses against Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale.
Town’s most recent league outing saw them suffer a 2-0 home defeat against Northampton Town, leaving Artell’s side 15th in the table with 13 points from 10 matches.
Despite their recent difficulties, the Mariners have scored 13 league goals this season, matching Rochdale’s tally, and will be looking to rediscover the attacking threat that helped them establish themselves among the early-season pace-setters.
Kieran Green remains Town’s leading league goalscorer, having found the net three times so far this season.
The midfielder will be one of the players the Mariners look to for a spark as they aim to turn their recent performances into positive results.
Town will also be hoping to build on their previous success against Rochdale, having won both league meetings between the sides during the 2022/23 campaign without conceding a goal.
With a demanding run of fixtures continuing, Tuesday evening presents an opportunity for the Mariners to show their resilience, regain confidence and get their league campaign moving in the right direction.
Head-to-Head
Tuesday’s fixture will be the 51st competitive meeting between Grimsby Town and Rochdale.
The Mariners hold the advantage in the historical record, having recorded 23 victories to Rochdale’s 19, while eight encounters have ended in draws.
The clubs first met on 19th November 1921, when Grimsby Town won 2-0 away at Rochdale.
The sides have faced one another regularly across the Football League over the years, with their most recent league meetings coming during the 2022/23 season.
Town claimed a 1-0 away victory at Spotland on 13th August 2022 before completing a league double with another 1-0 win at Blundell Park on 11th March 2023.
The Mariners will be looking to extend that winning run and record three consecutive Football League clean sheets against Rochdale for only the second time, having previously achieved the feat in October 1952.
Last Time We Met
The most recent competitive league meeting between the two sides came on Saturday 11th March 2023, when Grimsby Town secured a 1-0 victory at Blundell Park.
The result completed a league double over Dale, following the Mariners’ 1-0 victory at Spotland earlier in the campaign.
The two sides also met in a pre-season friendly on 19th July 2025, when Rochdale recorded a 2-0 victory.
Town will now be looking to return to the Crown Oil Arena and reproduce the defensive solidity that saw them win on their last two league visits to Dale.
Ones to Watch
Dajaune Brown
Forward Dajaune Brown has made a promising start to the 2026/27 campaign and will be one for the Mariners to watch on Tuesday evening.
The 21-year-old has scored three league goals and registered two assists across his opening 11 appearances, establishing himself as an important part of Rochdale’s attacking options.
Brown offers versatility across the forward line, capable of playing as a central striker or operating in wider attacking positions. His movement and ability to carry the ball make him a threat for opposition defences.
He has already demonstrated his ability to contribute consistently in the final third, and Town will need to be alert to his runs and movement around the penalty area.
With Rochdale looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat, Brown will be hoping to make another decisive contribution as Dale look to return to winning ways at home.
The Numbers
- Tuesday’s fixture will be the 51st competitive meeting between Grimsby Town and Rochdale.
- The Mariners lead the head-to-head record with 23 victories to Rochdale’s 19, while eight matches have ended in draws.
- Grimsby won both league meetings against Rochdale in the 2022/23 season, recording 1-0 victories home and away.
- Town could record three consecutive Football League clean sheets against Dale for the second time, having previously done so in October 1952.
- Rochdale sit 13th in League Two with 14 points, while the Mariners are 15th with 13 points.
- Both sides have scored 13 league goals so far this season.
- Rochdale’s five-match unbeaten run came to an end with Saturday’s 3-2 defeat away at Crewe Alexandra.
- Dale have won their last two home league matches, beating Oldham Athletic 2-0 and Swindon Town 1-0.
- Grimsby are without a win in their last six away league matches, drawing four and losing two.
- Kieran Green is the Mariners’ leading league goalscorer this season with three goals.
- Dajaune Brown has scored three league goals and provided two assists for Rochdale.
- Rochdale manager Ian Watson led South Shields to second place in the National League North in 2025/26, collecting 95 points.
Match Officials
Declan Bourne will take charge of Tuesday evening’s Sky Bet League Two fixture between Rochdale and Grimsby Town at the Crown Oil Arena, with kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm.
Bourne will be assisted by Mark Cunliffe and Kenwyn Hughes, while Scott Oldham has been appointed as the fourth official.
During the 2026/27 season, Bourne has officiated seven matches across all competitions, issuing 23 yellow cards and one red card, while awarding three penalties.
Last season, he took charge of 26 matches across various competitions, showing 101 yellow cards, five second yellow-card dismissals and one straight red card, while awarding 15 penalties.
His League Two appointments in 2025/26 included nine matches, during which he issued 40 yellow cards, one second yellow-card dismissal and one straight red card, and awarded eight penalties.
Bourne’s most recent match involving the Mariners came on 7th February 2026, when Town drew 0-0 away at Newport County in Sky Bet League Two.
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