Newport County will travel to Blundell Park to take on Grimsby Town this Saturday afternoon (3pm) as they look to continue their unbeaten start this season in the Sky Bet League Two. Take a look at our match preview brought to you by Configur.
In their last League Two outing, the Exiles came away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Crawley Town at Rodney Parade and on Tuesday evening put on an encouraging display in an unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Championship opposition Millwall.
Opposition Focus
Grimsby Town head into Saturday’s clash in excellent form, having won two and drawn one of their opening three fixtures. Impressively, the Mariners have scored three goals in every game so far this season. Their one league win and one league draw place them fifth in the table on four points – the same total as the Exiles, who sit ninth, separated only by goal difference.
In their most recent outing, Grimsby saw off fellow League Two side Shrewsbury Town 3-1 to book their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup.
Now firmly re-established as a League Two outfit, the Mariners are targeting the next step – promotion – after narrowly missing out on a play-off spot last season by just two points. Their strong start to the 2025-26 campaign is testament to a productive summer in the transfer market, with the standout signing being winger Jaze Kabia from Truro City. Kabia has been central to their attacking threat, finding the net in every match he has played so far.
Head-to-Head
The first ever meeting between the two clubs came in the National League – then known as the Blue Square Premier – where Grimsby Town came away with a 2-0 victory over the Exiles following a brace from Alan Connell. The sides have faced each other 25 times, with Grimsby winning eight, Newport 9, and eight matches ending in draws.
In recent years, Grimsby have been the most successful side, with the Exiles failing to register a victory over the Mariners since February 2021. Newport County’s last win was a 1-0 victory, which saw Nicky Maynard open the score in the 51st minute from close range.
Memorable Encounter
The Exiles and the Mariners have shared plenty of memorable encounters over the years, but one standout clash came during the 2017-18 season – an action-packed 2-1 Newport victory at Blundell Park.
Newport struck early through Robbie Willmott, before doubling their advantage in the second half thanks to a well-taken Frank Nouble goal. In an effort to spark a comeback, Grimsby boss Russell Slade introduced Jamille Matt – who would go on to join Newport the following season and score 20 goals in his first year in black and amber. Matt immediately made an impact, pulling a goal back for the Mariners to shift the momentum.
However, that momentum was short-lived. Just nine minutes after scoring, Matt was shown a red card, reducing Grimsby to ten men and allowing Newport to see out the win.
This match is also fondly remembered by Newport fans for featuring current Arsenal defender Ben White, who spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan with the Exiles. During his time at Rodney Parade, White formed a formidable defensive partnership with club legends Mickey Demetriou and Mark O’Brien.
Shared shirts
Striker Padraig Amond spent the 2015-16 season with Grimsby Town, making 51 appearances and scoring an impressive 37 goals. A year later, the Irishman joined Newport County, where he spent five seasons and cemented his status as a club hero. Amond became a player the Exiles could count on in the big moments, famously scoring against Premier League and Championship opposition including Leicester City, Middlesbrough, and Manchester City.
Another player to represent both clubs was Christian Jolley. Like Amond, Jolley remains a beloved figure among Newport supporters, best remembered for opening the scoring in the 86th minute of the 2012-13 National League Play-Off Final against Welsh rivals Wrexham. Aaron O’Connor sealed the 2-0 victory with a stoppage-time strike, sending Newport back to the Football League. Jolley went on to spend four seasons with the Exiles before departing in 2014-15 due to limited game time, joining Grimsby Town on a free transfer. He made 11 appearances for the Mariners, scoring once.