Grimsby vs Notts County preview
Friday 21 December 2018 11:41, UK
Grimsby will be without Danny Collins against Notts County.
The defender is likely to miss the entire Christmas schedule after a scan revealed the full extent of the thigh injury that forced him off during the home win over Swindon.
He was replaced by Alex Whitmore, who is now the leading contender to start alongside Harry Davis in central defence on Saturday. Akin Famewo (hamstring) and Reece Hall-Johnson (groin) are nearing a return to fitness following their injury absence.
Matt Tootle could come back into contention for Notts County. The defender has been training following an ankle injury and could be included in the squad that travels to Blundell Park.
Magpies manager Neal Ardley got his first victory last weekend and he could be tempted to stick with his winning formula and name an unchanged team. Lewis Alessandra and Enzio Boldewijn continue their recoveries from knee injuries and are making progress, although it will be January or February before either are back in first team contention.
Opta stats
Grimsby are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions against Notts County (W3 D3), their longest run since January 1988 (eight games).
After winning three and drawing one of four matches away from home against Grimsby between October 2006 and February 2010, Notts County have lost each of their last three such games in all competitions.
Grimsby Town have picked up three wins in their last five League Two games (D1 L1) - as many as in their previous 15 matches in the league (D3 L9).
By beating Tranmere Rovers 3-2 in their last League Two outing, Notts County ended a run of nine league matches without a win (D4 L5).
Notts County put three goals past Tranmere Rovers in their last League Two game - more than they had managed to score in their previous five games in the league combined (2).
