Grimsby Town at Newport County: Mariners look to continue away joy

Two teams that have rarely, if at all, ended games in a draw in the league this season face off on Saturday as Grimsby Town make the long trip to face Newport County in the hopes of continuing their away joy.

The Mariners are the only team in the professional leagues to have not drawn so far this term, and their opponents this weekend have shared the points on just one occasion.

“We’re not going to die wondering,” said Artell in response to having no draws yet. “There is evidence to suggest that if you bring off an attacking player for a defender or midfielder, you concede more goals.

READ MORE: Grimsby Town held to first league draw of the season in stalemate at Newport County

READ MORE: Traders gearing up for possibly the last Christmas in Grimsby Top Town Market Hall

“We have the opposite approach to that, which has probably been the main reason for us having no draws. We want to go for it - if we’re losing 1-0 in a game, we are okay to lose 3-0 if we try to win - we have lost heavily and have a minus goal difference, but we leave games with no doubts.

“A loss is a loss no matter the scoreline, but we want to be able to look in the mirror and know that we had a go, meaning making a change or doing something differently to try and get back into a game even if the outcome is the same or worse.”

A pre-game scenario such as that usually means the football gods will provide us with the result that both teams have largely steered clear of so far, but Town are on a winning streak away from home that they will want to continue.

David Artell’s side have scored ten and conceded ten in away games this season but have won five in a row after losing the first three.

Town have not blown teams away; instead, they have got ahead and looked to defend what they have, which they have done very well during this run of wins. That is not what Artell wants the approach to be in the long term, but in a results business, he will certainly take what the team have earned so far and would be content with keeping the streak going if this was the only way to do it currently.

Some, if not most, of Grimsby’s issues so far this term have been injury-enforced, particularly not having the depth in midfield to make changes and stay in control of possession and territory late in matches.

A big positive from the midweek EFL Trophy distraction was welcoming back two central midfielders, Curtis Thompson and Jordan Davies. They might not be ready to play a big role this Saturday, but they could provide the quality off the bench to improve the game.

Newport's first 15 league games have been up and down. They are in 15th place on 19 points, and the club are looking to be patient with head coach Nelson Jardim. Jardim arrived in the summer under a new owner who wanted to go in a different direction.

Town have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions, but the away run has felt like its own separate thing, and with that, the team will go to South Wales full of belief that they can make it six consecutive away victories.