Grimsby boss claims Premier League team are ‘much more difficult’ than Manchester United

Grimsby Town boss David Artell believes Brentford will be ‘much more difficult’ opponents than Manchester United.

League Two side Grimsby face Brentford on Tuesday night for a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

The Mariners have enjoyed a superb run in the EFL Cup, stunning Premier League giants Manchester United in the second round before beating Championship side Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

Grimsby opened up a 2-0 lead over United inside 30 minutes back in August but two lates goals from the visitors sent the tie to penalties.

After a tense and lengthy shootout, Grimsby emerged triumphant with a 12-11 win to seal one of the biggest upsets in English football history.

Artell’s side will be dreaming of another upset against Brentford but the 44-year-old boss expects a ‘more difficult’ challenge from Keith Andrews’ Bees.

Brentford were tipped by many to go down earlier in the season following the departure of manager Thomas Frank and several key players – including Bryan Mbeumo who joined Manchester United.

But the west Londoners have won three of their last four games to climb to 11th – eight points outside the relegation places – and stunned defending Premier League champions Liverpool on Saturday.

Grimsby boss Artell insists Brentford are ‘fully in’ compared to United who he says are still ‘finding their way’ under Ruben Amorim.

Amorim was left fighting for his job after the embarrassing defeat to Grimsby but three successive wins has taken United to sixth and drastically improved the mood at Old Trafford.

‘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,’ Artell said.

‘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 Manchester United.’

On Grimsby’s game-plan against Brentford, Artell added: ‘We’re not playing for penalties. We didn’t do that against United. We went and got them and they didn’t expect it.’

Brentford are one of 11 Premier League clubs still in the Carabao Cup along with Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Fulham, Tottenham, Newcastle, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Wolves.

Newcastle are the Carabao Cup holders after Eddie Howe’s side beat Liverpool in last year’s final at Wembley.

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