Crewe Alex v Grimsby 25-26 Preview - Jealous

You know when a relationship that started off very happy turned toxic? And you separate from what you thought was your soulmate. And you see your ex go on to be happy and successful in a new relationship, whilst you struggle to move on and are having more relationship problems with your new partner? And you have those mixed feelings where by you still love/hate that former partner, and you aren't sure whether to be happy for them in their new relationship or be bitter and jealous that they've found happiness whilst you and your new partner are experiencing relationship difficulties of your own.

Yeah no, me neither. By pure coincidence, it's former Crewe boss Dave Artell coming to Gresty Road on Saturday. Here is my preview of Grimsby's visit:

Identity

I'm not going to relitigate the Artell years at the Alex and how to view them. That's been done to death. But what you do realise is that even during the Alex's initial struggles under Artell, there was a clear plan and identity in place. Well, Grimsby are now benefiting from a new look Artell, who has them flying high in L2. They sit top or near the top of most of the major attacking lists for xG, shots on target, possession, accurate passes etc. Everything we wish the Alex were better at.

You can't help but wonder where the Alex might be with this reinvented version of Artell, even if I still wouldn't take him back.

Before the Lord Mayor's Show

Grimsby's league form this season has been good for the most part. Except in the games either side of their League Cup games. They've played 3 rounds in the cup and in each of the preceding League games, they have drawn, against Harrogate, Accrington and Cambridge. In each of the 3 games immediately after the League Cup games, they scraped a last minute winner against Newport and lost against Bristol Rovers and Barnet.

Well, they come to Gresty Road with surely half an eye on their home game with Brentford next Tuesday. Can the Alex capitalise on their stutters before cup games once again.

Decisions

I think it's fair to say Grimsby have had a large amount of decisions go their way through the opening weeks of the season. They have incredibly had 5 penalties awarded through 13 games, the most in L2. Plus, 5 opposition players have been sent off against them. Now, they will argue that you make your own luck and it was their good play and poor opposition choices which led to those big moments, but that's still a ridiculous amount of big calls in their favour.

Those calls have been a big factor behind their success. Of their 7 league wins, only 2 have come in games where they didn't win a penalty and/or their opponent didn't get a red card. If the Alex can avoid both of these things, then they might have a shot at getting a result.

Now or never....again

I said before the Notts County game that it was now or never for Bell. Well, we're at that stage once again and you have to ask how many lives he has at this stage and how many times he can drag himself back from the brink. Eventually his ability to pull out results every time the writing seems on the wall is going to evaporate.

However, the fact is that if they can find a way to win this game, when everyone will have counted them out, then he can cling on for a bit longer. Find a way to beat Donny in the cup and struggling Shrewsbury the week after that and the landscape at the club looks very different. All that looks near on impossible though at this stage though.

Either way, it's fitting that it's at Gresty Road where Bell's tenure will either come to an end, or be extended a little bit longer.

Ref Watch

Martin Coy

Coy did 2 Crewe games last season, those being the 1-0 defeats against Barrow and Port Vale. I don't remember him being flat out terrible in either to fair. That's about all I've got to say about him.

2025-26 Record: 8 games(6 League One, 2 League Two), 23 yellows, 1 red

Last Game: Lincoln City 1-0 Stevenage, EFL League One, 18th October 2025, 2 yellows

Crewe Alex Record: 7-1-4, 18 yellows

Injuries/Absences

Crewe Alex

The injury situation looks identical to what it was last week, with March, Tabiner and Tracey recovering from long term issues, Powell dealing with his groin issue and everyone else being fit and available. I think.

Grimsby Town

The Cod last week were missing Neo Eccleston, Geza Turi, Reece Staunton, Darragh Burns, Zak Gilsenan and Doug Tharme, with Burns, Staunton and Tharme seemingly like reasonably big misses.

Team

I'm going to keep asking for changes because at the moment, certain players aren't performing and it's becoming tiring. Things need a shake up. A big shake up. It's about the only thing Bell has left to play.

I'm basically asking for the same starting XI as I did last week. It gets Connolly WAY out of the team, gives Mingi and Rankine the chance to impress and gets Lankester and O'Reilly closer together where they can maybe start to link up.

Score Prediction

Is Bell going to pull the rabbit out of the a hat once again to save himself? I wouldn't be surprised if he did. But hearing him once again use the infamous "we know where we need to improve" so soon after he last said it rings fairly hollow right now. Grimsby will come fired up and they should make mincemeat of the Alex's fragile confidence. If they get the first goal, it's fairly likely to be game over. And that's what I think will happen. A couple of 1st half goals, the Alex meekly respond and Grimsby get a 3rd to kill the game. Thank you and goodnight.

Crewe Alexandra 0-3 Grimsby Town