The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Is football a business or a sport?




Bosh to Return?
Bosh to Return?

Grimsby v Darlington Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 03/12/2007

TOWN welcome Darlo to Blundell Park after crashing out of the FA Cup to Huddersfield on Saturday. The Mariners have a chance to close the gap on the teams in front of them at the lower end of the table with a win against the second placed Quakers.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Darlington (h)


The Opposition

Overview

After the fiasco which was the Reynolds era everything is starting to look up for those in County Durham: second in the league, a bit of money to flash around and a nice big stadium to play hide and seek in for when they get bored. On a more sober note Darlington fans will be happy to see the back of November. After their impressive start they had a chance of going to the dogs with a colossal defeat 5-1 to Hereford this time last month completely out of the blue. It had some fans worried about what might take place but even with a defeat to Northampton in the cup Darlo seem to have refocused and are starting to move forward and challenge MK Dons for the top spot.

The Team
Not many other teams in League two can boast such a vast number of squad members with Town being rarely able to count on 20 players. Darlo can boast 34 to their name this season all with the capability of taking on anything this league can throw at them. Only conceding 10 goals this season and half of them in one match Darlington have the best defence in the league by far. Only conceding 5 in 16 matches is a phenomenal record by any team and it is going to be one tough nut for Town to crack. Up front we all now know about the man who Town tried to capture during the summer in the way of Julian Joachim (left), once of Villa and Boston. Now the former England player plies his trade in the north east joining up with fellow striker Tommy Wright. The midfield too can provide the fire power but its Wright who will be the threat to who ever we stick in net.

Key Player
As discussed Tommy Wright (left) has been bought to life with his partnership with the experienced Joachim at the age of 23 the former Leicester trainee seems to be one hell of a find for manager Dave Penney. Previously on loan to Walsall last season the youngster was picked up from Barnsley before that Wright jumped around the leagues at Brentford Blackpool and of course Leicester but now settled at one club for the season the young striker is making a name for himself.

Recent Form

TownDarlington
LHuddersfield (FAC)(a)0-3
WBarnet(a)3-0
WCarlisle (FAC)(h)1-0
LMorecambe(h)1-2
DDoncaster (JPT)(h)2-2 (5-4p)
Currently 22nd in League Two.
WWycombe(h)1-0
LNorthampton (FAC)(a)1-2
WBrentford(a)2-0
DNorthampton (FAC)(h)1-1
WShrewsbury(h)2-0
Currently 2nd in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownDarlington
Ciaran Toner4
Paul Bolland4
Wright10
Abbott5

Team News

TownDarlington

  • Danny Boshell is available again after his three match suspensionm but Tom Newey is not suspended after being booked on Saturday until the Brentford game on Saturday.

  • Paul Bolland may start after returning from an injury as a substitute last week.

  • Martin Butler is still not not fit enough to be added to the squad. Justin Whittle likewise is not ready to return.
  • Midfielder Clark Keltie is suspended

  • Defender Neil Austin (hamstring) is again doubtful.

  • Striker Pawel Abbott should start again after scoring the winner against Wycombe.
  • Probable Teams

    TownDarlington
    G13Montgomery
    D14Hird
    D5Bennett
    D6Fenton
    D3Newey
    M7Till
    M4Hunt
    M8Bolland
    M10Toner
    F9North
    F19Jones
    G13Stockdale
    D8Cummins
    D4White
    D5Foster
    D31Ridley
    M12Joachim
    M11Purdie
    M14Ravenhill
    M32Colbeck
    F20Wright
    F9Abbott

    Subs

    TownDarlington
    1Barnes
    15Whittle
    17Hegarty
    20Taylor
    12Rankin
    1Oakes
    6Miller
    16Blundell
    18McBride
    30Foran

    Head to Head

    Town have the edge over the years but the Quakers have been a terrible bogey side of late and Town have not won in the last ten attempts.

    P 50 W 22 D 10 L 18 F 74 A 54

    Darlington Head-to-Head (34th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0 Darlington 1 (Sat 20th September 2007)

    Town went down to the customary 1-0 defeat at home midway though January's terrible run.

     Report

    Prediction

    Grimsby Town 2- 0 Darlington

    Reader's POMs

    Add To Facebook


    This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!


    Related Stories


    Forum Latest
    Thread TitlePostsLatest Post
    JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW 88chaos3325/11 19:40
    Just Back220gtfc_chris25/11 18:49
    Comparison end of 2019 and 202415Northbank Mariner25/11 18:18
    Swindon  Appoint Holloway168BobbyCummingsTackle25/11 12:03
    Football Twit of the Week 🎖5promotion plaice25/11 09:55
    TV Games/Upcoming Fixtures3SiteBot25/11 03:30
    Racist Scum Bag 18mariner tommy24/11 22:38