Grimsby Town Exeter City Exeter City Grimsby Town Grimsby TownPlayer stats will appear once the competition begins.
Grimsby TownNo absentees
Exeter CityNo absentees
Previous lineup is not available.
Grimsby Town vs Exeter City is a 3pm kick-off at Blundell Park on Saturday, with the in-form hosts strong favourites against a side dropping in from League One.
Grimsby were one of the division’s better teams last season, while Exeter arrive following relegation from League One. Andy Francis has the best bets, our score prediction and the head-to-head record below.
Premium Tips
Andy is with the hosts, whose attacking quality and home advantage make them clear favourites on opening day.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Grimsby to win and Andy Cook to score anytime | 9/4 | Grimsby are the backbone of this bet. They were one of League Two’s stronger sides last season, scoring 77 goals with a goal difference of plus 23, and they have home advantage over an Exeter side just relegated from League One. That points to a Grimsby win. Andy Cook adds the scorer leg. He is an aerially dominant target man who netted seven goals last season, and Grimsby’s attacking threat should give him chances at Blundell Park. The catch is his game time: he started only 18 of 24 appearances, so the scorer leg leans on him being fit and in the side. |
| Charles Vernam over 0.5 assists and Jayden Wareham over 0.5 shots on target | 8/1 | Jayden Wareham is the strong half of this bet. Exeter’s main striker fired 19 goals in League One last season from 100 shots, landing 39 on target, close to one a game. Dropping to League Two should only sharpen that, so a single effort on target is a fair ask. Charles Vernam is the tougher leg. He is Grimsby’s chief creator, with 10 goals, 10 assists and their set pieces, so the talent is there. But actual assists are low-frequency: 10 in 43 games means he set up a goal in roughly a quarter of them, so one in this match is optimistic. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How Grimsby Town go into the game
Grimsby enjoyed an excellent 2025-26, finishing seventh in League Two on 78 points and scoring 74 goals, narrowly missing out on the play-offs. Blundell Park was a fortress for much of the campaign.
Andy Cook leads the line and gives them a genuine goal threat few at this level can match. With that firepower and home advantage, the Mariners will fancy their chances of a fast start.
How Exeter City go into the game
Exeter drop into League Two after a 21st-place finish in League One, a season in which they conceded 61 goals. There is decent quality going forward, but defensive resilience will be key at this level.
A long trip to face a buoyant Grimsby side is a difficult opener, and the Grecians will need to be at their best to take anything from Blundell Park. Weathering the early pressure is the priority.
Grimsby Town vs Exeter City head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27/04/21 | Exeter City | 3-2 | Grimsby Town |
| 01/12/20 | Grimsby Town | 1-4 | Exeter City |
| 18/01/20 | Grimsby Town | 0-1 | Exeter City |
| 28/09/19 | Exeter City | 1-3 | Grimsby Town |
| 29/12/18 | Exeter City | 1-2 | Grimsby Town |
The sides last met in 2021, before Exeter’s spell in League One. Exeter had the better of the overall record, but Grimsby won two of the last three meetings before the clubs went their separate ways.
Grimsby Town vs Exeter City predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grimsby to win | 8/11 | ⭐⭐⭐ | In-form hosts with a real goal threat. |
| Andy Cook anytime scorer | 7/5 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Grimsby’s prolific focal point. |
| Both teams to score | 4/5 | ⭐⭐ | Exeter carry enough to score at the other end. |
| Over 2.5 goals | 5/6 | ⭐⭐ | Grimsby’s attack should push the total up. |
| Grimsby to win 2-1 | 15/2 | ⭐⭐ | Our headline scoreline for a home win. |
Grimsby Town vs Exeter City score prediction
Exeter will hope to carry some League One quality into this level, but a trip to an in-form, goal-hungry Grimsby side on opening day is a stern test. We expect the Mariners to make home advantage count and edge a game with goals in it. Score prediction: Grimsby Town 2-1 Exeter City.
Read more:
- Latest football news
- Football betting tips
- Best betting sites
- Best free bet offers
- Football accumulator tips
