Grimsby Town vs Salford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to proceed their respective unbeaten runs from the regular season, Grimsby Town and Salford City clash for the archetypal limb of their League Two playoff semi-final connected Sunday.

The Mariners are seeking Blundell Park occurrence aft drawing astatine Tranmere Rovers past weekend, whilst the Ammies shared the spoils astatine Crawley Town.

Match preview

Following a damaging 2-1 decision astatine the basal of Chesterfield connected April 14, Grimsby Town person strung unneurotic a four-match unbeaten tally (W3 D1) successful League Two, securing their spot successful the playoff picture.

The Mariners' three-game winning series came to a halt astatine Tranmere past weekend, however, with a 3rd league onslaught of the word for winger Justin Amaluzor yet capable to seal a 1-1 gully and consequent top-seven qualification.

After losing conscionable 1 of their last 7 third-tier contests (W5 D1) of the regular season, Grimsby ended up successful seventh presumption successful the League Two standings, 2 points up of Barnet successful eighth spot.

Netting 41 times crossed 23 league fixtures astatine Blundell Park truthful acold this season, lone Cambridge United (43) and Notts County (45) person been much potent connected location soil, with the Mariners scoring 7 goals successful caller wins implicit Crewe Alexandra and Swindon Town.

Taking to League Two similar a duck to h2o pursuing a 16-goal run for Truro City successful National League South past campaign, Jaze Kabia is the main antheral successful Grimsby's onslaught this season, bagging 18 strikes successful 46 appearances.

As is the lawsuit with Sunday afternoon's hosts, Salford City get astatine Blundell Park for this first-leg clash boasting a four-game unbeaten streak (W2 D2), past tasting competitory decision astatine Crewe connected Easter Monday.

However, determination volition beryllium a lingering feeling of disappointment wrong the ranks of the Ammies aft a heartbreaking goalless gully astatine Crawley connected the last day, meaning that Karl Robinson's troops missed retired connected automatic promotion to Cambridge.

Losing a sizeable full of 15 matches successful the regular play - the aforesaid magnitude arsenic 15th-placed Fleetwood Town - it is not astonishing that Salford failed to marque the people for a top-three finish, finishing 1 constituent down the third-placed U's. 

The Ammies request to amended connected their caller distant signifier if they privation to drawback a second-leg advantage, with Sunday afternoon's visitors winning conscionable 1 of their past 4 League Two outings (D1 L2).

Perhaps a motion of things to travel implicit the people of this two-legged affair, Grimsby comfortably did the treble implicit Salford during the regular season, easing past the Ammies by a 3-1 scoreline astatine Blundell Park successful aboriginal March.

Grimsby Town League Two form:

W L W W W D

Salford City League Two form:

W L D W W D

Team News

Subbed disconnected aboriginal into the 2nd fractional against Tranmere past weekend, Grimsby's Andy Cook could driblet to the seat connected Sunday.

After bagging a chapeau instrumentality versus Swindon a week previous, Kabia lone featured for 13 minutes past clip retired but should beryllium promoted to the starting XI for this match.

With acquisition of winning promotion from League One to the Championship with Peterborough United, Christy Pym is the backup goalkeeper for the Mariners.

Following a coagulated cleanable expanse against Crawley past clip out, Salford should instrumentality with a centre-back pairing of Brandon Cooper and Adebola Oluwo.

Boasting FA Cup and Premier League titles connected his CV, Fabio Borini has the imaginable to supply a infinitesimal of playoff magic for the Ammies.

Grimsby Town imaginable starting lineup:

Smith; Warren, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney; Turi, Amaluzor, Green, Walker, Vernam; Kabia

Salford City imaginable starting lineup:

Young; Turton, Oluwo, Cooper, Garbutt; Longelo, Austerfield, Butcher, Ehibhatiomhan; Graydon, Udoh

We say: Grimsby Town 2-0 Salford City

With home-field vantage and a bully caller grounds against the visitors, Grimsby volition beryllium assured of taking power of the two-legged necktie astatine Blundell Park connected Sunday.

The Ammies would astir apt wound your limb disconnected for a gully this weekend, however, we consciousness that a damaging decision is connected the cards for Robinson's men.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.