Tranmere Rovers look to return to winning ways as Grimsby Town visit Prenton Park this Saturday afternoon.
Standing in Tranmere’s way though are Grimsby Town – a side who are unbeaten in three games.
Town, who got to the FA Cup Quarter Finals last month, look to finish as high up in the table as possible, sitting 12th, just a point above Tranmere, with a game in hand.
Ian Dawes’ Rovers come into the game after a 2-2 draw in mid-week at Rochdale – where two late goals kept Dale in Sky Bet League Two, at least for another few days.
One To Watch: Harry Clifton
Harry Clifton, born in Grimsby, is a midfielder for Grimsby Town – the top scorer for the club in the 2022/23 season.
Town’s number 15 has made 161 appearances so far for the Mariners – scoring 15 goals since his first professional contract back in 2015.
Clifton has made 6 appearances for Wales U21s – before making his first professional appearance for Grimsby, which was in 2017.
Clifton signed a new 2-year deal with Saturday’s visitors in June 2022, lasting until summer 2024.
The midfielder has scored 9 goals and had 4 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions this season – leading the line as Grimsby’s top scorer.
The Manager: Paul Hurst
Hurst began his footballing career as a player for Rotherham United – where he signed his first professional contract in 1993, aged 19 – featuring as a left back.
Hurst went on to make 438 appearances for the Millers, scoring 13 goals from the defence – solidifying himself as a legend at the New York Stadium.
He went out on loan to Burton Albion, who were in the conference at the time, to regain fitness after a lengthy injury. Despite being offered a trial at Mansfield Town following being released from Rotherham in 2008, he turned it down to pursue a career in management.
Hurst started his management career at Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit, Ilkeston Town, in January 2009 as joint manager with former Rotherham team mate, Rob Scott – leading the team to promotion to the Conference North in 2009 in their first season.
Scott and Hurst made the move to Boston United in the summer of 2009 – also gaining promotion and completing the treble in the 2009-10 season – NPL Challenge Cup, League Play-Off Final and the Lincolnshire Senior Shield.
The pair moved to Grimsby Town in 2011, before Rob Scott parted ways with Town – leading Paul Hurst to take the team alone. Hurst led the team to promotion from the National League in the play-off final at Wembley, with a 3-1 win over Forest Green Rovers.
Stints at Shrewsbury Town came in 2016, after Micky Mellon departed to become manager of Tranmere Rovers – and short spells at Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United – all of which ended relatively unsuccessfully.
Hurst returned to Blundell Park in 2020, but despite his best efforts, Town were relegated again to the National League. In the first attempt, they bounced back up to League Two, with the Mariners beating Notts County this summer in the play-off final at the London Stadium. Hurst signed a new contract in September to keep him at Grimsby for the foreseeable future.
Hurst has managed 698 career matches – winning 325 and drawing 177 – meaning his win percentage is 46.6%.
Match Coverage:
How to watch Tranmere Rovers v Grimsby Town?
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