- Team form: Grimsby Town have won their last two matches while Stafford Rangers have two wins, two draws and one defeat from their last five.
- Away goals: Grimsby Town have scored eight goals in their five away matches.
- Odds: Grimsby Town are priced up as 1.3 favorites against Stafford Rangers, who are 8.6 outsiders.
Grimsby have momentum and have more quality
Grimsby Town, who have won their last two games, should come away with the win from their FA Cup 2026-2027 clash with National League North side Stafford Rangers at Stan Robinson Stadium on Sunday. The Mariners are currently a bit above their heads of Stafford in the football pyramid and have an extra layer of quality that should ensure they finish on top of this one.
Grimsby boss David Artell, who has been in charge since November 2023, has created a well-structured 4-2-1 side that can press in unison and possess a midfield base that keeps the ball nicely. Artell has also encouraged his players to play on the front foot and will have confidence in his team's ability to put Grimsby in front on Sunday. The visitors beat Gillingham 4-1 in a recent away game and York City FC 5-2 at home in their previous fixture.
Boro can land punches, but they’re underdogs
Tactics and setup
Stafford boss Graham Deakin, who has had the job since 1 May 2026, has been similarly adventurous with his team, deploying wide players that get into advanced positions and setting his side up to put pressure on opponents with their set-piece play. But the Mariners have a lot more quality and are the better side.
Recent form and stats
- Stafford's recent record of five wins, two draws and three defeats from their last 10 in all competitions is quite a respectable one for a National League North team playing 10 matches against teams they are supposed to beat.
- Boro have taken two wins, one draw and one defeat from their last four home games and have only lost one of their previous five in all venues.
- Boro have bagged 2.25 goals per game, while Grimsby have hit 1.60 goals in their five away matches.
Verdict
The visitors have been better recently with nine goals in their two most recent matches and should have enough to win. Stafford can land their share of blows in the game, but have to be passed over at 8.6.
Over 2.5 goals and BTTS looks a good play
Both of these teams have used width effectively and are not afraid to play balls into the box, but Grimsby's midfield is more of a platform and should help them finish the game with a better control of the play. Grimsby are 1.3, so it would be a surprise if the odds-on bet were to miss, but there is a good chance that both teams can get on the scoreboard.
Grimsby's wide play and direct set-piece delivery should keep Stafford pinned back in patches of the match, so our preference is to back Over 2.5 goals at 1.45 & BTTS Yes at 1.8 rather than take the straight over.
