I don’t want to be victim of an upset
HURST IS WARY OF CUP THREAT POSED BY BROMSGROVE TO HIGH-FLYING GRIMSBY
PAUL Hurst has warned his Grimsby Town players they must match the intensity of Bromsgrove Sporting to avoid becoming the subject of a huge FA Cup upset.
The Mariners travel down to the Victoria Ground today for a tie against seventh-tier opposition in front of the BBC cameras.
Hurst travelled down to watch Bromsgrove in league action on Tuesday night and was left under no illusions of the potential to be embarrassed by lower-league opponents. In the words of the Town boss, the tie has every ingredient for an upset and has vowed to ensure his players match the hunger and desire of the opposition.
“The TV are there, it’s a pitch that is very sloped like at Maidenhead. I thought the surface looked good, I’ve seen a lot worse.
“The stadium has a main stand and the rest of it doesn’t feel too tight, it’s a big enough pitch and things like that. “Everything on that side we’re perfectly happy with.
“For us, we have to go there and be professional. I’ve managed and played at that level, I know what it’s like and there are certainly some good players, which I saw the other night.
“They had a couple of lads that did very well in a tough game against an unbeaten team.
“Although they lost the game, they competed and they will be really up for the game.
“We have to match that and over the course of the game, you’d like to think our fitness level and quality will come through.
“Only if we match their initial intensity and be willing to do all the less attractive bits.
“The running, the tackling, the closing down, that’s what we have to do.”