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Grimsby v Chester

By: Alex Green
Date: 02/10/2007

AFTER a spell away optimism is slowly returning to Blundell Park, as the Mariners strive for a third successive win, this time against a Chester team which has the chance to go top if all goes their way.

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


The Opposition

Overview

Former Rangers player Bobby Williamson (left) took charge from Mark Wright in May after Chester just managed to avoid relegation out of the football league in a troublesome season on the Welsh border. During pre-season Williamson started on a mass clear out with six senior players from the previous campaign heading for the exit including Jamie Hand now of Lincoln and Ashley Westwood now resident at Port Vale. In return Williamson bought in a wealth of experience including Mark Hughes (not that one obviously) of Stevenage, former Leeds, Sunderland and Ireland international Paul Butler (below) and once Man City midfield maestro Tony Grant. With such signings at the Deva Stadium (Deva meaning Chester in Roman) its hardly surprising Chester have found themselves giving a few teams a shock in the early run ins already.

This Season
The Mariners meet yet another team with a 100% away record on Tuesday night after a win on Saturday at Moss Road against a Macclesfield team which was lucky enough to take a point earlier on at Blundell Park. With the inclusion of the pre season signings Williamson has been able to create a team which has so far been able to bring a bit of consistency to a squad which only managed one back to back win during the entirety of last season. Chester has already matched that this season including only one defeat in eight (except a defeat to Forest on penalties) before entertaining Brentford in their last game at home. Williamson has also been able to count on a squad which can score from all departments so far this season 9 separate players have scored once or more, for a team which can also boast only conceding 6 goals this season.

Key Player
Kevin Ellison: The former Hull City midfielder became an instant crowd favourite ever since his long awaited return to the Deva this summer, after previously playing for Chester before his move to the north bank. The left sided midfielder was also much sought after by them lot up the road before he decided to return to the Wirral instead of sticking around Humberside. In his previous spell at Chester the Liverpudlian created and scored almost at will giving him instant hero status among the Chester faithful. His flair and creativity are a real concern if he is given enough time on the ball and can lift a team with his individual performance not unlike former Mariner Alan Pouton.

Recent Form

TownChester
WHereford(h)2-1
WLincoln(a)2-1
DStockport(h)1-1
LAccrington(a)1-4
WHuddersfield (JPT)(h)4-1
Currently 5th in League Two.
WMacclesfield(a)2-1
LBrentford(h)0-2
WBury(a)2-0
LMorecambe(h)0-1
DCrewe (JPT)(h)1-1 (4-3p)
Currently 14th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownChester
Paul Bolland3
Ciaran Toner3
Murphy3
Yeo2

Team News

TownChester

  • James Hunt will miss out again leaving Clarke to replace the injured midfielder

  • Dave Mulligan will play his last game for Town before moving back to Scunthorpe

  • Paul Bolland will undergo a late medical on his shin injury which he picked up against Hereford

  • Ryan Bennett is getting fitter by the day and will also be competing for his first team place.
  • Striker Kevin Roberts is to miss out again with an injured ankle

  • James Vaughan and Chris Holroyd will also not appear.

  • Glenn Cronin is still injured and maybe for the foreseeable future for Chester.
  • Probable Teams

    TownChester
    G1Barnes
    D14Mulligan
    D6Fenton
    D15Whittle (C)
    D3Newey
    D7Till
    M8Bolland
    M11Boshell
    M2Clarke
    M10Toner
    F12Rankin
    G12Danby
    D2Marples
    D19Linwood
    D6Butler (C)
    D17Wilson
    M7Partridge
    M24Carol
    M30Grant
    M14Hughes
    F11Ellison
    F9Murphy

    Subs

    TownChester
    13Montgomery
    5Bennett
    18Bore
    19Jones
    20Taylor
    8Yeo
    21Rutherford
    23Palethorpe
    10Lowdnes
    3Sandwith

    Head to Head

    Town have the edge over Chester since the pair first met in 1951. The Mariners have a particularly strong record at home against the Blues, although City's win last year put an end to a sequence of four consecutive wins for Grimsby. The two teams rarely draw: 30 years and 15 games have passed since a 0-0 draw at Blundell Park last failed to divide the two sides.

    P 35 W 19 D 5 L 11 F 51 A 40

    Chester Head-to-Head (11th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0-2 Chester (Tuesday 09th January 2007)

    The last time the two teams met came in the middle of a record-breaking seven match losing run at the start of 2007. A poor display in front of their own fans left supporters of the Mariners staring at the wrong end of the table.

     Report

    Prediction

    Let's be positive being six points off top and bottom, let's hope a third successive win will move us in the right direction

    Grimsby 2-0 Chester

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.

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