Not Started
Rochdale vs Grimsby Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips - 20-10-2026
Oct 2018:45
Match Prediction
Expected score: Rochdale 2-1 Grimsby
RochdaleDrawGrimsby
Over 2.5 goalsYes (69%)
Both teams to scoreYes (71%)
Rochdale host Grimsby Town at Spotland Stadium in League Two's 12th round, with both sides occupying the lower half of the table. Rochdale sit 13th on 14 points from 11 games, while Grimsby are a point behind in 15th. The hosts come in with recent momentum, having won two of their last three League Two matches. Grimsby have shown resilience but remain inconsistent, drawing four of their last five outings. This is a meeting between two clubs with contrasting trajectories over the past fortnight, setting up a contest where form may prove decisive.
Team form
Rochdale
Rochdale have recovered well after a heavy 1-4 defeat to Gillingham on 5 September. They followed that with a 3-0 home victory over Shrewsbury, then won 2-0 at Oldham and claimed a 2-1 away win at Fleetwood Town most recently. Over their last five matches, they have scored 8 goals and conceded 5, averaging 1.6 per game offensively and 1.0 defensively — a marked improvement on their season average of 1.18 scored and 1.36 conceded. Coach Ian Watson's 4-2-3-1 setup has provided some attacking thrust, with D. Brown particularly influential in recent weeks.
Grimsby
Grimsby have been harder to break down but lack penetration. Their last five games show two draws, one win and two draws again — they have drawn four times in five outings. They scored 8 goals across those matches and conceded 6, matching Rochdale's attacking output but showing greater defensive fragility. Under David Artell's 4-1-4-1 formation, they have managed only one win in their last five League Two fixtures, the 2-0 home success over Bristol Rovers on 12 September. Their season average of 1.18 goals scored and 1.18 conceded reflects a side struggling to impose itself consistently.
Head-to-head
The head-to-head record favours Rochdale. In their last four meetings, Rochdale have won twice — most recently a 2-0 home victory on 19 July 2025 — while Grimsby have one win to their name. The sides drew once in that sequence. Grimsby's sole victory came at home in March 2023. Rochdale's recent dominance in this fixture, combined with their current form advantage, adds weight to the home side's case.
Key factors
Possession and control will likely favour Grimsby, whose 4-1-4-1 is designed to retain the ball and build from deep. However, Rochdale's recent attacking efficiency and their ability to convert chances — evident in their wins over Oldham and Fleetwood — suggests they can trouble Grimsby's defence. Grimsby's defensive record this season (1.18 goals conceded per game) is slightly better than Rochdale's (1.36), but Rochdale's recent form shows they are scoring more freely. Both teams have shown they can find the net, and neither has been watertight at the back.
Prediction
Rochdale's recent form and home advantage create an edge in this tight contest. They have won two of three League Two matches and average 1.6 goals per game over that run. Grimsby have shown defensive solidity but lack attacking consistency, with only one win in five outings. The head-to-head record also tilts toward the hosts. However, Grimsby's midfield structure under Artell and their ability to draw games suggest they will not be outclassed. Both sides are capable of scoring, and the underlying metrics point to a fairly open game with chances at both ends.
Rochdale edge this encounter on the balance of recent form, home advantage and head-to-head record, but Grimsby should not be discounted. Expect a competitive match with goals likely at both ends.
Match info
Statistics
Odds Comparison
Recent Form
Rochdale
D
L
W
W
D
Grimsby
L
D
L
L
L
Injuries & Suspensions
Lineups
Standings
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Salford City | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 22 |
| 2 |  Barnet | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 21 |
| 3 |  Crewe | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 21 |
| 4 |  York | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 |
| 5 |  Walsall | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| 6 |  Gillingham | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 16 |
| 7 |  Chesterfield | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 8 |  Cheltenham | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 9 |  Bristol Rovers | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
| 10 |  Accrington ST | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 |
| 11 |  Newport County | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 |
| 12 |  Fleetwood Town | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 |
| 13 |  Rochdale | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 14 |  Shrewsbury | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 15 |  Grimsby | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| 16 |  Exeter City | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| 17 |  Tranmere | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 18 |  Swindon Town | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 19 |  Oldham | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| 20 |  Colchester | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| 21 |  Port Vale | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| 22 |  Northampton | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| 23 |  Rotherham | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 24 |  Crawley Town | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
Other Football matches
Rochdale vs Grimsby - Football Prediction & Betting Tips
Expert Rochdale vs Grimsby football prediction on 365sport.tv combines tactical formation analysis with goal-scoring trends. Our model evaluates penalty statistics, clean sheet records, goalkeeper form, defensive line organization and home-field advantage to identify value in match outcomes and goal markets.
Our football prediction methodology analyzes formation matchups, transition efficiency, set-piece vulnerability and injury impact on tactical setup. Compare odds from multiple bookmakers and discover predictions backed by analysis of goal-line actions, corner conversion rates and defensive pressure patterns across multiple possession phases.