Manchester United travel to Blundell Park for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup second round clash with Grimsby Town.
Ruben Amorim’s side is looking for their first win of the season, after taking just one point from the first two matches in the Premier League.
Grimsby Town stand in United’s way after beating Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the Carabao Cup first round. In addition to that, David Artell’s Mariners have made an impressive unbeaten start to their league campaign after five matches.
It will be the first meeting between the two clubs in 77 years, so Grimsby Town will be doing everything they can to cause an upset after scoring in their last nine matches.
Meanwhile, Amorim is expected to heavily rotate his United side, with a number of players looking for their first starts of the season.
Ruben Amorim during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Grimsby Town want to make it hostile for Manchester United
David Artell says Grimsby Town will be doing everything they can to make it a difficult evening for United.
The manager of Grimsby Town doesn’t lack ambition and believes that a hostile atmosphere would give them the best chance to knock United out of the Carabao Cup.
🏴🏆 Manchester United will take the trip to Grimsby Town tonight for a cup match!
The stadium, Blundell Park, was built 126 years ago in 1899! However, only one of the original stands remains. 🏟️✨ pic.twitter.com/AwMxxTt031
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 27, 2025
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After a strong start to the 2025/26 season, Artell believes Grimsby Town have earned the right to compete against United.
“We’ve earned our right to be playing against Manchester United by winning in the previous round and we’re here to compete and we’ve got to make it as hostile as we can for them both on and off the pitch,” Artell told The Guardian.
“The fans have been absolutely magnificent – it’ll be a sellout. We are hoping that United don’t particularly like the ground, the dressing rooms.”
The Guardian’s article reveals that Artell travelled to London on Sunday to watch United draw 1-1 against Fulham.
“There is an element of this that can be uncomfortable [for United] and we’ve got to make it so on the pitch,” Artell said.
“It’ll be an extremely tough night for us, we’re under no illusions about the size of the task, but it’s a great game. It might be the biggest game some of the lads will ever play in their careers but I want them to see it as an opportunity, not just as an occasion, and this is what helps make players grow and it’s my job to make sure they go out ready to compete.”
He added: “We’re unbeaten and we want to make that continue.
“However difficult that may be, that’s got to be our belief. We’re not stupid, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we know our place, but that doesn’t mean we just roll over. We’re here to compete and we’ve got to make sure that the processes that we have in place are maintained and make sure that the principles on the pitch are maintained and that will give us our best shot.
“We need to be authentic and go out there with freedom to express ourselves both with and without the ball and, if we do that, then if there is any emotion after 95, 98 minutes, whatever it takes, then we hope it’s euphoric.”
Carabao Cup draw was a ‘pinch-me moment’ for Grimsby Town
Former Manchester United head of women’s football Polly Bancroft is currently the chief executive at Grimsby Town.
After spending two-and-a-half years at United, Bancroft explained that the Carabao Cup second round came as a ‘pinch me moment’ for everyone at Grimsby Town.
“We had to put a pause on the website until we regrouped on the Thursday morning,” Bancroft told BBC Sport.
“My phone went crazy. It was a pinch-me moment for everyone connected to Grimsby Town.”
Reflecting on her time at United, Bancroft added: “When I joined the club, the women’s team was four years old and the men’s was 144.
“Embedding that start-up within the establishment, naturally, had some growing pains.
“It’s the same sport but with different games, different demands and different needs. We knitted it together as well as possible.”