Away we go under the Thursday night lights at Blundell Park... I have a feeling we might need to buckle up.

Image source, Shutterstock

We are fast approaching kick-off but first Blundell Park will pay respects to former Grimsby manager John Newman with a minute's applause.

Players and staff from the Mariners will also wear black armbands for this fixture.

Newman passed away earlier this week at the age of 91.

BBC Local Radio

Because of broadcast rights we are unable to bring you audio commentary of tonight's game online.

BBC Radio Humberside are providing commentary if you live in their transmission area.

We will bring you the best of their output in text form alongside our live text commentary so you will not miss a thing.

Gary Croft
Former Grimsby defender on BBC Radio Humberside

I’m a bit upset to see Kieran Green is not in the squad. He’s a man who can fire up the spirit and get the team going.

He’s such an important player that resting him is a little bit of a risk. He puts so much energy into games that you can understand probably why someone like him might need a rest.

It’s a decent sized squad and everyone’s got to share the responsibility and they really could do with getting the home form back on track tonight. It’s a big game for them I think.

Image source, Opta

David Artell has made three changes from the Grimsby side which drew 2-2 at Swindon on Saturday.

Christy Pym is back between the sticks after a one-match ban, replacing emergency keeper Richard O’Donnell.

George McEachran is suspended and Saturday’s goalscorer Kieran Green misses out with Evan Khouri and Jamie Walker handed starts in midfield.

Andy Crosby has made just one enforced change from the Rovers XI which drew 2-2 against high-flying MK Dons last time out.

Forward Connor Jennings returns in place of the injured Aaron McGowan for his sixth start in seven games, having started just two of their first 11 matches.

Image source, Opta

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Just click on the shiny yellow Get Involved button on the top left of this page and get it off your chest.

Whether you have thoughts on these teams, how this match will go, the fascinating League Two promotion race or the EFL as a whole, we want to hear from you.

Grimsby head coach David Artell has defended his team's defending of set-pieces after a long throw caught them out for Swindon's first goal on Saturday.

He told BBC Radio Humberside: "We’ve definitely improved on last season, 100%. It was the first long throw we’ve conceded from all season so we’ve got to make sure we put it into a bit of perspective exactly what’s going on. We haven’t conceded from too many corners either.

"Is there room for improvement? Yes, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was last year that’s for certain and our standard is now higher so we’ve got to make sure we constantly improve and that is one area but it’s not something drastic.

"I don’t want everyone to then be highlighting it, like they highlighted the thing that Harvey Rodgers is rubbish or slow - because he’s our fastest player after Justin Amaluzor and he’s been unbelievable this season. But things take hold.

"It’s a bit like the national media with Jude Bellingham, everyone wants a scapegoat, it’s Bellingham’s turn like it was Wayne Rooney’s or David Beckham’s. He’s the best player so we’re going to hammer him and I’ve got to be really careful of what I say about certain aspects of our game or certain players because people are in for certain things."

Tranmere have let a two-goal lead slip in each of their past two games - head coach Andy Crosby told BBC Radio Merseyside that Rovers are looking for a solution:

"There's been a lot discussed around us when we haven't got the ball, when we have got it and how can we be more effective as a team?

"It's about the structure and the team having that underlying principle of what are we trying to do, the individuals, what is their role and responsibility within the structure and for them to carry out those actions whether it's the first minute or the 96th.

"We're more than aware of what we're currently doing later on in games and what is costing us and collectively a lot of it's been 'what we can do about it?'.

"We're the only ones that can affect that."

Image source, Shutterstock

On Saturday afternoon, Grimsby played their part in a thrilling game with Swindon which involved four first-half goals.

The Mariners were 2-0 down after 13 minutes but pulled it back thanks to Kieran Green and a Danny Rose penalty. Emergency loan goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell pulled off some crucial saves in the second half to preserve a point for his side.

Tranmere also registered a 2-2 draw with MK Dons albeit in contrasting circumstances.

Rovers were 2-0 up after 27 minutes through two goals from Charlie Whitaker but their opponents scored twice in four second-half minutes to rescue a point despite being reduced to 10 men in between.

Image source, Opta

• In the Football League, Tranmere Rovers have won just four of their 34 away games against Grimsby Town (D12 L18) though three have come across their past eight visits to Blundell Park.
• Grimsby have had more shots (253) and have a higher xG tally (30) than any other side in League Two this season, while they also rank second for shots on target (86).
• No team across England’s top four tiers have drawn more league games than Tranmere Rovers this season, with eight of their 17 games finishing level.

Image source, Getty Images

Promotion-chasing Grimsby are having a bit of wobble, it's fair to say.

One win, and just five points, from their past six games have resulted in Dave Artell's side dropping from the automatic promotion places towards mid-table - albeit in a ridiculously tight division which sees first and 12th separated by just six points.

The Mariners have taken 13 points from their eight games at Blundell Park, scoring 15 goals, but SEVEN of those came in a single 44-minute burst at home to Cheltenham in September.

They have played three home games since, losing two of them, and scoring only twice more.

Only rock-bottom Newport have won fewer games than Rovers' four this season, but they have only lost five, as many as leaders Walsall, and are box office on the road, with 30 goals coming in their eight away fixtures - 15 for and 15 against Andy Crosby's men.

They have both scored and conceded in each of their past six games overall and in seven of their eight games on the road - the only clean sheet came in their 2-0 win at Crawley in August.

This should be good...

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock

Grimsby might be winless in their past four games, but a return to winning ways tonight would lift them up from ninth to fifth, and within three points of new/old leaders, Mat Sadler's Walsall.

Tranmere start the night in 16th, and will end it there, unless they can come up with a two-goal win which would see them overhaul Oldham in 15th, and move Rovers eight points clear of the relegation zone to boot.

Image source, Shutterstock

On this glorious northern Thursday night, the EFL gods have served up Grimsby Town v Tranmere Rovers in League Two.

The weekend's fixtures brought us a lot of excitement with multiple new league leaders across Saturday afternoon and plenty of movement around the play-offs too.

Blundell Park plays host for us all tonight and let's hope for a lively one. There's reason to expect it will be - but we'll come to that shortly...