A spot in the EFL Cup third round will be up for grabs when Grimsby Town and Manchester United face off at Blundell Park on Wednesday.
The curtains will fall on the 2025/26 EFL Cup second round on Wednesday, with the day featuring four matches. The action on the night will start with three simultaneous fixtures before ending with Grimsby Town vs Manchester United at Blundell Park.
Grimsby Town qualified for the EFL Cup second round by beating Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the previous stage. The Mariners have been impressive in the first few weeks of the 2025/26 season, and they are fourth in the EFL League Two standings, having won three and drawn two of their five fourth-division outings thus far.
On the other hand, Manchester United would have hoped for a better start to the 2025/26 season. While the Red Devils were unfortunate to lose to Arsenal in Gameweek 1 of the Premier League, they fell into the patterns from last term against Fulham, managing only a 1-1 draw to end an unconvincing performance.
Grimsby Town and Manchester United last locked horns nearly 80 years ago, with the clash ending in a 1-1 draw. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Grimsby Town
David Artell has several fitness issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Grimsby Town manager may be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Manchester United on Wednesday.
Artell is sweating over the fitness of Kieran Green, Doug Tharme, and Jamie Walker after the trio missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Accrington Stanley. Meanwhile, Jason Svanthorsson and Sam Lavelle remain on the sidelines for the home side.
Christy Pym should retain his spot between the sticks, with Grimsby Town lining up in a 4-1-4-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Wednesday. The backline should feature Harvey Rodgers, Tyrell Warren, Cameron McJannet, and Reece Staunton.
As for the midfield unit, George McEachran should hold the fort in the middle of the park, with Geza David Turi and Evan Khouri providing the creative impetus from the central areas. Justin Amaluzor and Darragh Burns will likely start as the wide attackers, with Jaze Kabia leading the line for Grimsby Town against Manchester United on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Pym; Rodgers, Warren, McJannet, Staunton; McEachran; Amaluzor, Turi, Khouri, Burns; Kabia
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Grimsby Town dugout, Ruben Amorim barely has any injury concerns to deal with ahead of the trip to Blundell Park. The Manchester United manager will be without two first-team players on Wednesday.
Lisandro Martinez is the long-term absentee, with the Argentine international recovering from a knee injury that will keep him on the sidelines until October. However, Noussair Mazraoui is closing in on returning from a hamstring issue.
Ruben Amorim should rotate his troops on Wednesday, with Andre Onana replacing Altay Bayindir between the sticks. Manchester United will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of the Cameroonian international, with Tyler Fredricson, Harry Maguire, and Ayden Heaven forming the central defensive unit.
Diogo Dalot and Diego Leon should start as the two wing-backs, with Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte pairing up in the middle of the park. Benjamin Sesko will spearhead the Manchester United attack against Grimsby Town, with Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Fredricson, Maguire, Heaven; Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, Leon; Bruno Fernandes, Zirkzee; Sesko
Key Stats
Grimsby Town and Manchester United have previously locked horns 36 times, with the latter having the slightest of advantages in the head-to-head record with 16 wins (D5 L15).
However, Manchester United have lost only one of their last five matches against Grimsby Town (W2 D2), with the most recent meeting happening in March 1948.
Grimsby Town are unbeaten thus far in the 2025/26 season, winning four of their six games (D2), including the EFL Cup first-round match against Shrewsbury Town. Meanwhile, the Mariners have scored in each of their last six fixtures.
Grimsby Town’s last two EFL Cup ties have generated at least four goals. On the other hand, Manchester United have won three of their five most recent EFL Cup ties by at least three strikes.
Ruben Amorim will be eager to correct his dreadful managerial record at Manchester United, having managed only 16 wins in 44 outings thus far (D11 L17).
Player to Watch
Benjamin Sesko
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While Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo, and George McEachran were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Benjamin Sesko as the Player to Watch for Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.
The Slovenian striker has managed only two cameos since joining Manchester United, and he has barely received any opportunities to make his mark in the final third. That should change on Wednesday when he starts for Manchester United for the first time. Expect the young striker to produce the goods in front of the goal.
Prediction
Grimsby Town 1-3 Manchester United
Grimsby Town may have been impressive in the first few weeks of the 2025/26 season, but the hosts face a tall order to continue their unbeaten start to the new campaign. While their scoring run should not end, their defence will face the challenging task of stopping a Premier League club.
So, while Manchester United’s conversion woes have continued in the first two matches of the 2025/26 season, Bruno Fernandes should set up several chances for Benjamin Sesko and the other attackers. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Ruben Amorim and his charges.