Having survived an FA Cup giant killing by the skin of their teeth, Grimsby Town welcome National League South outfit Slough Town to Blundell Park for Tuesday's first-round replay.
The League Two side came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw versus their non-league counterparts on November 5, and a trip to Oxford United awaits the victors in the second round.
Match preview
© Reuters
Of course, Grimsby know a thing or two about springing FA Cup surprises following their magical run to the quarter-finals last year, but their journey in 2023-24 very nearly ended at the first hurdle as Scott Davies's free kick sailed into the back of the net.
Slough were holding out as the dying embers approached, but Danny Rose's 75th-minute strike denied the Rebels a direct route into the second round, as the team led by Shaun Pearson and Ben Davies - who took over from Paul Hurst at the end of October - snapped a dismal five-game losing run to give themselves a shot at redemption in front of their own fans.
Coming from a goal down to avoid defeat against Slough may have been the fillip required for Grimsby to turn their fortunes around, as the Mariners also fought back from a first-half deficit to sink Morecambe 3-2 in Saturday's League Two thriller, where Rose was on target again alongside Kieran Green and Rekiel Pyke.
On the back of claiming their first domestic victory since October 3, Grimsby now set out to avoid a fourth FA Cup first-round exit in the last five seasons, one of which came via a replay against Newport County in 2019-20 following a 1-1 draw in the opening encounter.
Each of the hosts' last three FA Cup ties at Blundell Park versus Luton Town, Burton Albion and Plymouth Argyle have ended in victory - not since 1937 have they enjoyed a longer winning streak at home in the competition - and the last team to beat them on their own turf in the FA Cup were, coincidentally, Oxford United in 2014.
Vengeance would be on the menu for Grimsby should they advance to meet Oxford in the second round, but the Mariners must first take their second bite of the cherry against an inspired Slough Town crop, who are aiming to match their best-ever finish in England's most prestigious cup tournament.
The minnows from Berkshire have previously got as far as the second round on four occasions - including in back-to-back campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19, losing to Rochdale and Gillingham respectively - and they are no strangers to getting the job done at the second time of asking.
Indeed, Davies's men needed replays to overcome Salisbury and Ebbsfleet United in the qualifying rounds, although both of those victories came on home soil at Arbour Park, and from eight previous FA Cup away games against a side in League Two or above, Slough have failed to win any of them.
Preparations for Tuesday's tie have been topsy-turvy to say the least for the National League side, who crushed Truro City 4-0 in midweek before going down 4-3 to Welling United, the latter result representing only their second loss from their last 15 matches.
While defeats have been scarce for Slough, the Rebels are now winless in six straight away contests owing to a string of meagre defensive displays; 12 goals at the correct end is an eye-catching record, but Davies's side have allowed 15 to fly past them in that sequence.
Team News
© Reuters
Like many teams up and down the country, Grimsby have fallen victim to international call-ups, as Pakistan's Otis Khan, Sierra Leone's Kamil Conteh and Sudan's Abo Eisa are all set to link up with their respective nations.
Right-back Michee Efete was nowhere to be seen against Morecambe after being forced off injured in the opening draw with Slough, so Toby Mullarkey may be required to fill in out wide once again.
Slough also suffered a casualty in that 1-1 stalemate in the shape of 22-year-old midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillon, but the lynchpin was passed fit to start against Welling United and should be fine to take his place in the centre of the park here.
The visitors have lost striker Tom McElroy to Beaconsfield Town this month, piling more attacking pressure onto the shoulders of Bromley loanee George Alexander, who leads the way for the Rebels with five goals in the current campaign.
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Cartwright; Mullarkey, Rogers, Maher, Driscoll-Glennon; Green, Clifton, Hunt; Andrews, Rose, Pyke
Slough Town possible starting lineup:
Luthra; Jackman, Eweka, Bayliss, Dyce; Parillon, Sundire, Goddard; Davies, Lench, Alexander
We say: Grimsby Town 3-1 Slough Town
With a taste for goals on the road and nothing to lose at Blundell Park, Slough are not to be underestimated by their more esteemed counterparts, but ongoing rearguard concerns could prove to be their downfall.
It has been nine years since Grimsby last suffered an FA Cup proper home defeat, and we expect the Mariners to prolong that golden streak and bring the Slough fairytale to an end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
