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2025-08-27 - Grimsby Town vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup Second Round
Wednesday 27th August 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Grimsby Town
Nine English clubs will be joining the League Cup in the Third Round and so all eyes for the teams in the Second Round draw would have been on facing Manchester United. It is League Two Grimsby Town who have been given the 'tie of the Round' and the fact they are hosting means the neutrals tuning in will be hoping for an upset of epic proportions.
After being relegated from the Football League, Grimsby Town returned at the first opportunity and this is the fourth season in a row spent in League Two. The Mariners have been a middle of the road team in the Division in the main, although also had to fight to avoid relegation in 2023, and the expectations around Grimsby Town are for more of the same, at least in pre-season.
Grimsby Town are 4th in the early League Two table and they have yet to suffer a defeat this season, while they have made the League Cup Second Round for the third time in four years. The side may have ended last season with consecutive defeats at Blundell Park, but Grimsby Town have won all 3 home fixtures in the 2025/26 season.
A strong team will be selected and the home crowd are going to be filling the stands for this big Cup tie.
Manchester United
Failing to earn a spot in European Football for only the second time since English clubs were allowed to return from a ban in the early 1990s means Manchester United have to begin their League Cup adventure in August. The last time they were forced to do that, Louis van Gaal's team were embarrassed in a 4-0 loss at the MK Dons and Ruben Amorim cannot afford to have something similar happen on Wednesday.
There was a lot of excitement and belief going into the new season after some decent signings in the off-season, but Manchester United have only earned a point from the two Premier League fixtures played. In only one of the last six seasons have Manchester United lost their opening League Cup fixture and that was against a fellow Premier League club.
Manchester United have won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions and the pressure will ramp up significantly on the manager if they fail to win either of the fixtures prior to the September international break. The side have not won any of their last 6 away games played at the home of an English club.
Rotation has to be expected with the manager allowing new faces to impress- Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Ayden Heaven, Diego Leon, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee can all expect to get significant minutes. It may also be an opportunity for Benjamin Sesko to start for the first time in an effort to build up match fitness.
Head to Head
These two clubs last met in the top flight of English Football in the 1947/48 season.
Grimsby Town are actually unbeaten in 9 home games against Manchester United in all competitions.
Prediction
The reality is that anything other than a Manchester United win would be a big upset considering the gap between the clubs, but that also means all of the pressure is on the Premier League team.
The poor start to the season has just ramped things up and Ruben Amorim needs a big performance from his players on Wednesday and then against Burnley on Saturday in the Premier League.
That pressure can do funny things and Manchester United are going to be making a number of changes to the first team, which can also make things more difficult than they need to be.
Grimsby Town might not have the same level of quality as the visitors, but they have made a very strong start to the season and confidence will give them a chance. They also should have better chemistry in the starting eleven and it may give the League Two team a chance to at least keep this one more competitive than some think.
You'd still fancy Manchester United to find a way through, but Blundell Park is going to be up for this match and that could help the home players in their bid for the upset. A little over eighteen months ago, Manchester United won 2-4 at Newport County in the FA Cup and they may struggle to beat a confident Grimsby Town by a wider margin than that.
It may be a tough watch for the Manchester United fans on Wednesday and Grimsby Town could be worth backing with a big start on the handicap against a much changed visiting team.
Eventually the quality should tell for Manchester United, even if they have to utilise the bench, but it may not be a huge victory when all is said and done and especially if The Mariners can use the crowd to push them through.
The Pick :
Grimsby Town 1-3 Manchester United
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Grimsby Town + 2.5 Asian Handicap at 1.67 with Bet365
