Grimsby Town will be looking to make it two league wins on the bounce as they welcome Port Vale to Blundell Park in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday (3pm).
Michael Jolley’s side picked up an important 1-0 away win over Carlisle United at Brunton Park on Tuesday night as full-back Luke Hendrie bagged his first professional League goal.
And the Mariners will be aiming to carry on the momentum from that victory when they return to home soil to face Neil Aspin’s side this weekend.
But the Valiants – who are 16th-place – will be hoping to get back to winning ways in the league, following their 2-0 home defeat to MK Dons on Tuesday.
Aspin’s men have had an indifferent start to their Sky Bet League Two 2018-19 campaign – winning four, drawing two, and losing five – and they will be hoping to add another three points to their tally on Saturday.
Last five results
Grimsby Town: L, L, L, L, W
Port Vale: D, W, W, D, L
Transfer activity
The Valiants had a very busy summer, with 15 new players arriving at Vale Park, as Aspin moulded his own squad with the aim of improving on last season’s 20th-place finish.
Vale’s notable signings include striker Ricky Miller from Peterborough United, Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper Scott Brown, Cambridge United centre-half Leon Legge, and attacking-midfielder Louis Dodds on loan from Chesterfield.
They also signed AFC Bournemouth attacking-midfielder Ben Whitfield, central-midfielder Emmanuel Oyeleke from Aldershot, and brought in winger Idris Kanu on loan from Peterborough United.
One to watch: Tom Pope
The striker has scored four goals in 11 league games so far this season, and he will be hoping to return to the scoresheet this weekend – having not scored since his goal in the 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers on September 8.
The 33-year-old has bagged 21 goals in 52 league games since returning to the club for a second permanent spell last summer, and found the net 56 times in 163 appearances for the Valiants between 2011 and 2015.
The 6ft3ins centre-forward is the Valiants’ target-man, and he’ll be hoping to keep Town’s defence occupied this weekend.
Tickets are still available for this weekend’s clash with Port Vale as the Mariners hope to build on Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over Carlisle United.
