Preview: MK Dons vs Grimsby Town – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

MK Dons and Grimsby Town will both look to bounce back from defeats in League Two when they meet on matchday seven of the 2025-26 season on Saturday. 

The hosts are seventh in the League Two standings with 11 points, while the visitors are one place behind in eighth due to goal difference.

Match preview

MK Dons have had two extremely contrasting seasons in League Two since returning to the fourth tier after their League One relegation in 2022-23. 

The Dons placed fourth in 2023-24, disastrously losing 8-1 on aggregate to Crawley Town in the playoff semi-finals, before dropping to a miserable 19th-placed finish last campaign. 

Paul Warne, who was hired on April 15, led the side to an unbeaten end to the season – with three draws and one win – and their improved form has continued at the beginning of this term. 

MK Dons have have three, drawn two and lost two of their first seven matches across all competitions, with one of those defeats coming in the EFL Cup first round against Bristol City. 

Those results, therefore, leave MK Dons sitting seventh in the standings with 11 points from six games, and Warne will be hoping to maintain their current momentum and strengthen their playoff position as the Dons aim to push for promotion this season. 

The hosts will face fellow promotion-hopefuls Grimsby Town on Saturday, with the visitors trailing the Dons only on goal difference, sitting eighth in the table and joint-on points with MK Dons. 

Grimsby only narrowly missed out on a top-seven finish in League Two last campaign, eventually finishing the season sat ninth in the table and two points adrift of the playoff places. 

David Artell, in charge since November 2023, is aiming to go one step further and secure their playoff spot this term, and the Mariners have had a strong start in search of that goal. 

Grimsby remained undefeated after their first seven games of the season, including two draws and three wins in the league, as well as a remarkable penalty victory over Manchester United in the EFL Cup second round – recording one of the biggest upsets in English football history. 

However, the Mariners have seen their form take a downturn since their amazing cup triumph, losing 1-0 to Bristol Rovers in the league and 2-1 to Bradford City in the EFL Trophy. 

Artell will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday, aiming to avoid slipping further away from the playoff places, while a win over fellow playoff rivals could prove crucial at the end of the campaign.

MK Dons League Two form:

MK Dons form (all competitions):

Grimsby Town League Two form:

Grimsby Town form (all competitions):

Team News

MK Dons will have to make do without the availability of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, as the forward has been called up for international duty with Guatemala. 

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Callum Paterson and Jonathan Leko could start in attack in Mendez-Laing’s absence, while a change in midfield could see Daniel Crowley replace Will Collar after a poor performance in their 1-0 loss last time out. 

As for Grimsby Town, a number of changes were made to the side in their eventual 3-2 defeat to Bradford City in the EFL Trophy, and Artell is expected to name a more familiar lineup on Saturday. 

Christy Pym should return in goal for the Mariners, while Tyrell Warren and Cameron McJannett are anticipated to resume their partnership in central defence. 

Further up the pitch, George McEachran is likely to start as the holding midfielder, with Kieran Green and Evan Khouri starting in more advanced midfield roles.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

MacGillivray; Offord, Ekpiteta, Sanders, Mellish; Crowley, Kelly, Gilbey; Hepburn-Murphy, Paterson, Leko

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Rodgers, Warren, McJannett, Sweeney; Burns, Green, McEachran, Khouri, Vernam; Kabia

We say: MK Dons 1-1 Grimsby Town

MK Dons and Grimsby have impressed at the beginning of the new season and will be eager to bounce back from recent defeats, but with both teams seemingly evenly-matched on paper, while two of their last four clashes have ended in draws, we are expecting another stalemate here. 

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

No Data Analysis info

Previews by email