Games tend to be tight when these sides go head-to-head and, with both teams looking for the points, we expect it to be no different this Saturday.
The Mariners recently parted company with boss Michael Jolley as a worrying run saw them tumble down the League Two table.
That run has seen their league spell extend to seven games without a win, as they also find goals hard to come by.
It's some 407 minutes since they last found the back of the net, but in James Hanson [5], former-Blue Jordan Cook [3], Matt Green [3] and Ethan Robson [3] they have creative players who can add to the tally at any given moment.
Just one defeat from their first seven games in all competitions at the start of this season suggests that Grimsby don't have too much work to do to turn things round, and they'll be looking to start to set things right when they head to Brunton Park on Saturday.
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From the head coach ...
Speaking ahead of the game, United boss Chris Beech said: "We know full well the threats that Grimsby can bring because they have some very good players in that dressing room.
"They'll be really disappointed with the run they've been on and I'm sure they'll see every game as an opportunity to start to get their season going again.
"We have to be aware of that, but we have to go into the game with the determination to deal with what they'll do at the same time as we look to dominate the possession and take the game to them.
"It'll be a tough game because nobody ever rolls over at this level. We're in a division where any team can take a win against any other team on any given day.
"It's when you find the consistency that you start to make inroads into the league table, and that's what we're looking to kick-start at the weekend."
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Did You Know?
+ Traditionally, Grimsby were one of only two teams (the other being Hull City) who were allowed to play on Christmas Day due to the local fishing trade. The tradition has now disappeared.
+ In Grimsby’s 1939 FA Cup semi-final they were forced to play with an outfield player in goal for most of the match after stopper George Moulson picked up an injury, with rules forbidding substitutes for injuries.
+ Ex-Carlisle boss Bill Shankly managed at Blundell Park after he left the Cumbrians, before resigning in 1954 due to a lack of ambition from the board.
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Head to Head
These two sides have met on a total of 46 occasions over the years - spanning all the way back to the 1907/08 campaign when the Mariners registered a 6-2 FA Cup home victory over the fledgling Blues.
Grimsby hold the bragging rights by some considerable margin, with 24 victories compared to United's 11.
| Carlisle wins | Draws | Grimsby wins | |
| League | 9 | 8 | 19 |
| FA Cup | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| League Cup | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 11 | 11 | 24 |
The last time the teams met was at Blundell Park on a sunny April day towards the end of last season. It looked to be heading to a draw until Joe Grayson grabbed a winner deep into time added on.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
United were left empty-handed at Brunton Park in October earlier in the season as a first half goal from Luke Hendrie proved to be enough to take the spoils. The Blues had chances, but it wasn't their night as the visitors shut up shop to frustrate the home crowd.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
Our November 2017 trip to Blundell Park saw United give as good as they got in a tight game. Grimsby shaded the first half with the woodwork and some heroics from Jack Bonham to thank for a clean sheet. The deadlock was eventually broken when defender Clint Hill got on the end of a superb cross from Gary Liddle.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
Things were more comfortable in the home game with Hallam Hope opening the scoring with just three minutes on the clock. It was the perfect thank you to the fans who had turned up as early as 8am on match day to help to clear snow from the pitch, and the surrounding areas, to allow the game to go ahead. Mark Ellis secured the points with a close range header with just over 15 minutes left to play.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
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Man in the middle:
Our referee for this game is Mr Marc Edwards.
Marc has taken charge of 15 games so far this season showing 33 yellow cards and one red.
We met him for the first time in September when we beat Oldham courtesy of a goal in the third minute from Olufela Olomola when Oldham Athletic came to town.
There were no Carlisle bookings on the day.
Referee - Marc Edwards
Assistant Referee 1 - Barry Gordon
Assistant Referee 2 - Mark Cunliffe
Fourth Official - James Westgate
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Ticket information:
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