Two teams separated by just one place in the League Two standings will clash on Friday night when Colchester United host Grimsby Town at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The hosts are eighth in the table with 58 points from 38 games, while the visitors are one spot above in seventh with 59 points from their 38 outings.
Match preview
Colchester United suffered demotion to League Two in 2015-16, and after challenging for a playoff place and promotion in their initial years in the fourth division, the U's have dropped into relegation battles in recent seasons.
However, Danny Cowley, who guided Colchester to a narrow survival by just three points last term, has lifted the U's back into fighting for promotion this term.
Colchester currently trail the top seven by only one point, having accumulated 58 points from 38 league matches, after 14 wins, 16 draws and only eight defeats.
They actually experienced a challenging first half of the campaign, sitting 19th on matchday 26, but a run of 13 games without defeat - nine wins and four draws - saw them climb into the battle for the playoffs.
That run came to a disappointing end in their most recent outing, suffering a miserable 4-1 defeat to Bradford City, leaving Cowley aiming for his men to bounce back with a victory on Friday.
Three points would see Colchester climb into the playoff places above Friday's opponents, while a defeat would extend the gap to four points and could see them fall into ninth.
Grimsby, after briefly bouncing back and forth between League Two and the National League from 2020-21 and 2022-23, have finished 11th and 21st in their last two seasons since returning to the fourth division.
David Artell, who was appointed in November 2023, has Grimsby competing for promotion to League One this term, with his side currently placed 11th with 59 points after 38 games, from 18 wins, five draws and 15 defeats.
Back-to-back defeats to Notts County and Salford City in recent weeks threatened to see them drift behind the playoff places, but results elsewhere going their way kept them in the race, and the victory over Newport County last time out moved them into the top seven for just the second time this campaign.
Now looking to extend their stay in the top seven and strengthen their promotion hopes, Grimsby will aim to best Colchester for the first time since September 2022, having lost their last four meetings.
Team News
Cowley may make several changes to the starting 11 for this matchup after Colchester underwhelmed in the 4-1 defeat to Bradford City last time out.
Lyle Taylor, Jack Payne and Harry Anderson are all expected to retain their places in attack, while John-Kymani Gordon could replace Owura Edwards on the left wing.
As for Grimsby, a return to victory in their last outing against Newport County could see Artell opt to name a similar team here, with goalscorer George McEachran continuing at the base of midfield.
A back three of Harvey Rodgers, Douglas Tharme and Tyrell Warren is expected once again, with Luca Barrington, Danny Rose, Jason Svanthorsson and Denver Hume starting in forward areas.
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Macey; Egbo, Kelleher, Flanagan, Iandolo; Read, McDonnell; Anderson, Payne, Gordon; Taylor
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Wright; Rodgers, Tharme, Warren; Svanthorsson, Green, McEachran, Khouri, Hume; Rose, Barrington
We say: Colchester United 1-1 Grimsby Town
Colchester have been formidable at home this term, while Grimsby have been strongest when playing on the road, and with so little to separate them in the league table, we believe this one will end all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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