Gills Cast Their Nets at Blundell Park

Right then, it’s a long old trip up to Grimsby this weekend as we look to get our winning push firing again. We’re heading to their place, Blundell Park, without a win in three league games, which is a bit frustrating. But on the bright side, with no midweek fixture, the boys have had a full week on the training ground to put things right. Hopefully, that extra work pays off on Saturday.

The Skipper is Back and We've Got Options Up Top

The best news of the week has to be that our captain, Armani Little, is finally back in contention after missing five matches. Assistant boss Richard Dobson admitted we’ve really missed his leadership out there, and it sounds like he could be involved either from the start or off the bench. It’ll be massive just to have him back in the squad.

On top of that, striker Josh Andrews is back from his suspension. When you add him to Seb Palmer-Houlden, the experience of Sam Vokes, and the energy of Marcus Wyllie and Elliott Nevitt, we’ve suddenly got a ton of options up front. Dobbo called it a "nice problem" to have, and he's dead right. It's about time we had a proper headache when it comes to picking the attack.

The gaffer, Gareth Ainsworth, is still recovering from his surgery, but he’s been on Zoom calls helping pick the team, so he’s very much still involved. Dobbo is running things from the touchline and told Kent Online that the attitude in training has been top-drawer. He even said one session this week was "up there with the best in 25 years of coaching" because of the intensity and quality. Despite the recent results, it sounds like the mood is still good and the lads are ready to turn it around.

The only slight worries are on the wings. Aaron Rowe is probably another week away, and both Garath McCleary and Jonny Smith are still out with calf problems. The good news is that young Euan Williams is back in non-contact training, which is great to see after so long out, but he's not ready for a game just yet. All in all, though, we're taking a much stronger squad up north, and we’re going to need it.

A Few Nerves, But We're Keeping the Faith

You look online and, naturally, there’s a bit of chatter about going three games without a win. A few fans are getting twitchy, worried about "history repeating itself" after last season's slump. You can understand the concern.

But honestly, most of us are staying positive. You only have to look at Elliott Nevitt’s dramatic 95th-minute equaliser last Saturday to see the fight this squad has. And get this for a stat: we've now scored five goals after the 90th minute this season. That’s more than any other team in England's top four divisions! It just proves we never know when we're beaten.

Everyone seems buzzing for Nevitt to finally get off the mark, too. The lad runs his socks off every single game, and he absolutely deserved that goal. While nobody wants to be winless in three, the general feeling on the #Gills hashtag is that we’ve got the character and the players to steady the ship. Having the skipper back has given everyone a lift, and a fan poll showed about 72% of us are still expecting a successful season. We need a win, no doubt about it, but we’ve got what it takes to get one.

What to Expect from Grimsby

So, what about the Mariners? They’ll be a tough nut to crack, especially at home. Their manager, David Artell, has them flying after that incredible cup upset against Manchester United back in August. They’re in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 24 years, and the whole town is still buzzing from it.

That cup run might have distracted them in the league, though. Their form has been a bit hit-and-miss, and they lost 2-1 at home to a struggling Colchester side in their last league game. They’ll be desperate to bounce back from that.

One thing’s for sure: Grimsby can score goals. They’re actually the top scorers in League Two so far, so our defence will need to be at its best. Their forward Jaze Kabia is one to watch, and winger Charles Vernam is a real handful.

But for all their firepower, they look vulnerable at the back. They’ve conceded in each of their last five league games. If we can get at them and stay solid ourselves, there will be chances for us to punish them. They sit just below us in the table, making this a classic six-pointer. Their crowd will be loud, especially early on, so we'll need to weather that storm and impose our own game.

German Gills Prediction

This is a tough one to call. It’s a long journey for us, and we’re up against a team that scores for fun. That said, we boast one of the best defensive records in the league and have kept plenty of clean sheets on the road.

With our captain back marshalling the midfield and our knack for scoring late, I’m confident we can come away with something. It feels like a game where both teams could score. Grimsby will be fired up after their last result, and we’re desperate to end this little run without a win. I think it has all the makings of a hard-fought draw.

Score Prediction: Grimsby Town 1–1 Gillingham