‘Second goal kills us’ - Hurst gives verdict after Solihull setback
PAUL Hurst believes Grimsby Town were unfortunate in their defeat to Solihull Moors after dominating large portions of the game but challenged some players to raise their performance levels,
The Mariners fell to their fourth successive defeat on the road as goals from Adam Rooney and Joe Sbarra gave Solihull all three points.
It was another evening where Town dominated possession but didn’t have the cutting edge to break down their opponents and work the goalkeeper.
Similar to reverses at Wealdstone and Aldershot Town, it was a game where the Mariners were unable to make their dominance count.
Hurst wasn’t as scathing as those previous defeats but did concede that Town were carrying a few players at the ARMCO Arena.
“I think we had more than enough of the game,” Hurst said after the match.
“That said, we had a number of individuals that weren’t at their best, albeit we were well on top of it. The second goal kills us off, although there was still time.
“We were well on top of the game. It’s easy to stay we didn’t start well because we conceded the goal but I thought we started ok. It was their first or second attack and we’d had a chance.
“On the night, their goalkeeper got man of the match. I’m not sure it was the same (as other defeats) but we still need to be better. I am not disputing that.
“In terms of the game, we had enough in it. We didn’t take our opportunities.”
“I think they sat behind the play and made it difficult,” Hurst added when asked by the Grimsby Telegraph if they worked the goalkeeper enough.
“The goalkeeper got man of the match, we can all debate whether he should have. We might forget Harry’s (Clifton) chance that we had, for example.
“I’ll have to look back at it more. There were times when it goes in the box and I’d want to see more movement. When things are bobbling around we need that bit of instinct and some luck. You can’t rely on luck.
“We’re trying to work on it and have been for a while. Teams are sitting in when we go behind and we have to find ways to break that down.”