This Grimsby Town vs Brentford preview features a David vs. Goliath EFL Cup tie as League Two high-flyers Grimsby Town welcome Premier League opposition Brentford to Blundell Park on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. This fourth-round clash is the magic of the cup personified. The Mariners are in the midst of a promotion push but earned this glamour tie after a historic penalty shootout victory over Manchester United in the second round, followed by wins against Shrewsbury and Sheffield Wednesday. They face a Brentford side enjoying a strong Premier League campaign, who navigated past fellow top-flight sides Bournemouth and Aston Villa to reach this stage.
This match presents a classic cup banana skin, and this match preview will analyze where the value lies. The Bees are, of course, massive favorites, but Grimsby’s home form and giant-killing exploits in this competition make this a tantalizing fixture. For punters looking for an angle, Brentford’s expected squad rotation combined with Grimsby’s “nothing to lose” attitude could make this far closer than the league tables suggest. This is the exact kind of fixture where a shock could happen, or where the Premier League class could tell, making it a great match to consider on Betano.
Grimsby Town Vs Brentford match preview/Betting preview
Team Recent Form
Grimsby Town: L-W-L-L-W
Brentford: W-W-L-W-W
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Key Stats
- David vs Goliath: Grimsby Town (League Two) and Brentford (Premier League) are separated by two full divisions in the English football pyramid.5
- Giant Killers: Grimsby have already eliminated Manchester United (on penalties) and Championship side Sheffield Wednesday to reach this round.6
- Brentford’s Cup Form: The Bees have taken this competition seriously, eliminating Premier League sides AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa (on penalties) to get here.7
Correct Score Prediction: 1-2
My prediction is a hard-fought 1-2 victory for Brentford. Grimsby Town will be roared on by a packed Blundell Park and will undoubtedly raise their game, as they proved against Manchester United. I fully expect them to score. David Artell’s side is in good league form and will play without fear.
However, the gap in quality, even with Brentford’s expected rotation, is significant. The Bees’ “B-team” will feature full internationals and players with extensive Premier League experience, such as Kevin Schade, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Jordan Henderson. Grimsby’s recent league form has been slightly shaky (3 losses in 5), and while the cup is a different beast, Brentford’s superior technical ability and fitness should see them edge out the Mariners in the end, though not without a scare. This 1-2 scoreline is an attractive option on Betano.
Grimsby Town Vs Brentford H2H
- The head-to-head record is sparse, as the teams have not played in the same division for many years.
- The last four meetings all came in League Two between 2007 and 2009.8
- In those four matches, Brentford won 3 and Grimsby won 1.
- The last meeting at Blundell Park was in March 2009, which Brentford won 1-0.9
Pre game odds
- Grimsby Town (Home): 6.00
- Draw: 4.20
- Brentford (Away): 1.25
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Team News Grimsby Town
Manager David Artell is expected to field his strongest possible side for this showpiece tie. The Mariners have no new major injury concerns following their weekend league defeat to Crewe. Key attacking threats Charles Vernam (5 goals, 5 assists this season) and Jaze Kabia (5 goals) are expected to lead the line.10 We can expect a full-strength lineup as Grimsby aims for one of the biggest upsets in the club’s recent history.
Team News Brentford
Brentford will make wholesale changes from the side that impressively beat Liverpool 3-2. This competition is a chance for fringe players to impress. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to start, while defenders Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins should anchor the backline. We will likely see a strong midfield, including Jordan Henderson and Mikkel Damsgaard, with attackers Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago getting valuable minutes. Regulars like Aaron Hickey and Antoni Milambo remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
Predicted line up for both teams
- Grimsby Town: Pym; Rodgers, Warren, McJannet, Sweeney; McEachran, Green; Amaluzor, Walker, Vernam; Kabia
- Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg; Ajer, Yarmolyuk, Henderson, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Schade, Thiago
Grimsby Town Vs Brentford betting tips
This is a classic cup tie, and the betting tips reflect the potential for both an upset and a show of class. Get the best odds for these tips on Betano.
- Tip 1 – Result: Brentford Win. While the romance of the cup is tempting, the gulf in quality is too large. Brentford’s rotated squad is still packed with elite talent that should have enough to overcome a spirited Grimsby side.
- Tip 2 – Over/Under 2.5 goals: Over 2.5 goals. Grimsby will throw everything at this, and Brentford’s rotated defense may not be perfectly in sync. The Bees’ attack, however, should find plenty of joy. Grimsby’s recent games have also seen goals (3-2, 2-1).
- Tip 3 – Both team to score: Yes. This is the best bet of the match. Grimsby are playing at home in their biggest match of the season and have already scored against top-tier opposition.13 Brentford’s rotated defense is unlikely to keep a clean sheet against such a motivated side.
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Disclaimer: All betting tips and predictions are based on expert analysis and statistical data. However, outcomes in sports are unpredictable. Please gamble responsibly.
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