Grimsby Town v Palace

Blundell Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Grimsby

Team news

Grimsby Town are sitting in a precarious position, with just 35 points from a total of 36 games played, the Mariners occupy the last of the relegation positions.

The Mariners' league position is not their only worry as injuries are also a major problem for manager Paul Groves, who will have to choose from a depleted squad for Palace’s visit.

Both of Groves’s recent loan signings from Charlton will not feature through injury. Striker Martin Pringle broke his leg against fellow relegation candidates Stockport County, while Andy Todd will have to undergo a late fitness test before knowing whether he is fit enough to play.

If Todd does not play, Simon Ford could be called to fill in for the on-loan left-back, however while Paul Raven is returning to fitness, it is unlikely he will make the starting line up.

Trevor Francis will be relieved to have collected a much needed three points at Oakwell and will be hoping to capitalise on Tuesday night’s win with a good performance at Blundell Park.

Francis will be hoping to count on the services of Tony Popovic, who could be fit in time after having missed the last five games with a groin injury. A certain starter will be left-back Danny Granville who has served his three-match ban and can return to the starting line up.

However, a defender who will not be able to make the starting line up is Kit Symons who is still nursing a groin injury which he sustained against Coventry a month ago. Meanwhile, midfielder Julian Gray will be joining Symons on the treatment table after picking up an ankle injury against Barnsley.

It will be interesting to see whether Francis reverts to his preferred 4-3-3 formation after having dropped Ade Akinbiyi for the Barnsley game, however since Akinbiyi came on as a second half sub and scored, Francis could well be tempted to put him in the starting XI.

Grimsby Town - league stats

Full league table

Grimsby Town - current form

Full form table

Our away record v Grimsby Town

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
18/09/2001	League	Crystal Palace	5 - 0	Grimsby Town
02/12/2000	League	Grimsby Town	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
24/10/2000	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	Grimsby Town
26/02/2000	League	Grimsby Town	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
18/09/1999	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 0	Grimsby Town

All time results

One to watch

Andy Todd

The on-loan Charlton pikey...sorry Centre back will be the man to look out for on Saturday's trip up to Blundell Park. Strong in the air and good in the tackle, the big man is not afraid to make his presence known and Clinton and Dougie will have to battle hard against the powerhouse defender. Not only Grimsby's strongest defensive player, he is also dominant in the opposition's box, and no doubt he will be hoping to add to his goal in midweek against Stockport.

Last meeting

English Division 1

Grimsby 2 (0) Jeffrey 85 Donovan 88 C Palace 2 (1) Forssell 42 Morrison 81 02-12-2000

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Fostervold, Handyside, Willems, Donovan, Burnett, Coldicott, Campbell, Nielsen (David Smith,76), Allen(Jeffrey,69) Subs not used: Croudson, Bloomer, Murray.

C Palace: Kolinko, Smith, Austin, Fan Zhiyi, Ruddock, Mullins, Morrison, Black, Forssell, Pollock (Thomson,85), Harrison Subs not used: Carlisle, Freedman, Frampton, Kabba.

Bookings: Campbell, Willems (Grimsby) Black, Harrison, Pollock, Smith (C Palace)

Attendance: 5802

Referee: Bill Jordan (Tring)

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