Grimsby boss David Artell believes overcoming Brentford will be a tougher task than their victory over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
In what will be regarded as one of the greatest shock in the competition’s history, Grimsby enjoyed one of the greatest nights in their history when they stunned the Premier League giants back in August.
The League Two outfit led 2-0 at Blundell Park before being pegged back, but completed the job following a lengthy penalty shootout.
Grimsby remain the lowest ranked side still in the tournament, beating Sheffield Wednesday in the third round, and are now just one game from the quarter-finals.
However, they face a Brentford side that has been in top form in the Premier League.
Brentford are coming off a resounding victory over Liverpool and are favorites to win the game. With this in mind, Grimsby boss insists they will pose the toughest test yet.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago (centre) celebrates scoring his side’s third goal during the Premier League match between Brentford and Liverpool. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
He said: “I don’t want loads of letters from Manchester United fans from Kenya or Norway – or Stretford – but I think they’re still in that process of finding their way again. Brentford are fully in, fully understanding. That makes it so much more difficult. I think everyone agrees that Man United are still – maybe not in transition per se – but finding their way under a new manager that needs to be given time.
“I think you can see the fruits of the green shoots of progress from their side, but Brentford are not that team. Brentford are a well-established team. They’ve appointed from within to continue the work that the previous manager [Thomas Frank] did, and I think everyone would suggest that Keith Andrews is doing a brilliant job and he’s taking them on.
“You don’t beat West Ham so comprehensively, you don’t beat the reigning [Premier League] champions [Liverpool] if you haven’t got those principles of play already ingrained. Whether it’s set pieces, whether it’s transitions, whether it’s in possession, whether they come and get you out of possession, all that is already really well implemented into the squad. I’m not sure that was the case with Man United.”
Grimsby have outlined their plan to go after Brentford with their head coach maintaining they will not sit in hoping to force the lottery of penalties. “We’re not playing for penalties. We didn’t do that against United. We went and got them and they didn’t expect it,” he said.
Grimsby sit sixth in League Two but have lost three of their last four in all competitions having been beaten by Crewe at the weekend.
