The Mariners head to the University of Bradford Stadium for the first group game in the Vertu Trophy, coming fresh from their dramatic Carabao Cup victory over Manchester United.
The atmosphere promises to be a contrast to the fevered scenes that accompanied Artell’s side a week ago in the shootout win. Yet the Grimsby boss sees the fixture as a useful early test for a squad aiming to build momentum and push for a higher finish this season.
Bradford, Artell noted, are a tough proposition. “Bradford have always been a tough outfit, the size of the club, size of the budget,” he told club media. “It’s always going to be a challenge whatever league they are in. That’s been proven in League Two and now in League One. They’ve got some really good players, so it will be interesting to see how the night unfolds. If it was a league game we’d sell out the away end but any support is greatly appreciated.”
Grimsby arrive off their first defeat of the season, a setback suffered at Bristol Rovers following their strong showing against Manchester United a few days earlier. Artell, like his counterpart Graham Alexander at Bradford, plans to ring the changes in the lineup for tonight’s game.
“Any manager who says it’s as important as the league is lying. Every manager I’ve spoken to definitely doesn’t say that. But then there are benefits to it. I don’t know if the prize money comes into it but for us it’s a great opportunity to reinforce principles and what we’re trying to get from certain players. It’s a great opportunity to play players who might not have played as many minutes and rest one or two. I think every manager at this stage will think the same. Yes, we want to win and it will be extremely tough. Bradford have got a really good squad and are obviously a League One team now.”
What to watch for
– Rotation and minutes: With fixtures stacking up, look for a mix of fringe players and those needing minutes to keep sharpness up.
– Tactical setup: How Grimsby adapts its shape against a League One opponent and whether principles from last week’s cup success hold firm.
– Bradford’s response: A chance to assess how Bradford approach a cup-style group stage against a newly strengthened Grimsby side.
Commentary
This fixture gives Grimsby a valuable opportunity to continue the positive momentum from their cup exploits, while Bradford testifies to the depth and quality in a higher league. If the Mariners can blend resilience with controlled attacking play, they could turn the Vertu Trophy group into a confidence-building platform as they chase promotion ambitions.
Summary
Grimsby Town seek to translate the energy from their Carabao Cup win into a solid Vertu Trophy showing at Bradford, as Artell uses the game to rotate his squad and reinforce core principles ahead of the league calendar.
Hopeful note
A strong display could reinforce belief across the squad that recent big-match success is not a one-off, but a sign of growing consistency and ambition this season.