Pollock back in contention for tonight’s Blundell Park showdown
TEAM NEWS AND THE MANAGER’S THOUGHTS AHEAD OF LEAGUE TWO CLASH AGAINST MID-TABLE CRAWLEY
FOLLOWING a flurry of postponements, Grimsby Town are ready to finally take to the turf tonight and resume their relegation battle. After seeing their match against Exeter City postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Paul Hurst took the opportunity of a free weekend to get some extra training into his players. There is also some favourable team news, with Mattie Pollock - who did not travel to Exeter - back in contention.
Here is what the Mariners boss had to say in his pre-match press conference...
Back in action
I’m looking forward to getting the lads out there, they have looked nice and bright in the last few training sessions we have had. Fingers crossed they can carry that forward into the game.
You have to take some positives, you can’t look at everything negatively. Prior to Exeter, we took the opportunity to get some work into their legs. When the game was called off, we were in the next day on Sunday for training. I think the lads are just keen to get into a game now themselves. Hopefully they will show that when it comes around.
Both in Sunday’s and Monday’s sessions I have been pleased - they had a good tempo to them and they look keen. I know that doesn’t always translate, but we can only judge on what’s in front of them at any given time and that has been training - which has been very good.
A big month
As I said to the players - this game starts off ten games in 32 days, so it’s unrealistic to think we are going to keep the same team all the time.
There will be changes as we move along, whether that’s just personnel, or whether it’s the formation - we have said to the players they have to be ready to be a part of it and take their chances when they do come along. For some it will be fewer than others, and some players might have to play in all of the games. I have stressed the importance of the whole squad to the players.
Team news
Mattie Pollock was one who was struggling, but he has trained.
He was in on Sunday and did more work on the pitch to prove he was ready. He hadn’t travelled with us to Exeter, but he is back in contention for the squad. Other than that, the team news is pretty much as we were before Saturday’s postponed fixture.
On Crawley
Crawley have got some good attacking players. They are quite clever in some of their play, certainly in the final third. We have got to be on our guard against that.
Going the other way, I feel we can cause them problems.
They are on the back of a good win. I have seen some comments saying they think they have a chance of getting in the play-offs. I have no doubt they will be looking at this game as a good opportunity to take three points.
But I feel if we turn up and play like I think this group can, then we have also got a good chance.
It might be an open game. At times their games have been like that.
But we have to approach it with a positive mindset, and the absolute minimum is to work tirelessly to try and give our players options when we are on the ball, and make it difficult when Crawley have possession. They are the basics of football, but we have to make sure we are doing those first and foremost.
On the relegation picture
I don’t think anybody is writing us off yet. It was sad news to see Michael Jolley losing his job very quickly. But Barrow have made a change feeling like they need to do it. Southend lost at home at the weekend but had been picking up a few points.
I wouldn’t say it is just us three. You look at the table and at first glance that is an assumption that most people would think, I understand that.
We have just seen Fulham in the Premier League eat into a big deficit, and many are now tipping them to stay up rather than one or two teams above them.
It can be done and there is a long way to go. The picture will change during this spell I would have thought. The next month or so has ten games in it. So when we’re are stood here again after this period we will assess where we are at.
I really hope that we are out of the bottom two and in the absolute worst case scenario, very much still in touch.