Murray is delighted with Hurst showing
MANSFIELD Town newboy Kevan Hurst may have not been overly impressed with his Stags debut, but manager Adam Murray was delighted as the midfielder snatched all three points with a late winner at Newport County.
Hurst created the first goal for Matt Green and then struck in the 93rd minute, after the hosts had twice come back from a goal down at Rodney Parade.
But despite his heroics, the 30-year-old – who made the move to Mansfield from Southend this summer – says there is a lot more to come from him.
“Kevan Hurst came into the dressing room and told us that was the worst game of his career,” laughed Murray. “I thought he did pretty well!”
Hurst crossed for the equally impressive Green to head home against his former side on 12 minutes.
But Jack Compton’s perfect free-kick made it 1-1 six minutes later.
And when Joss Labadie bundled in to level for a second time after Danny Rose had restored the visitors’ lead, it looked as if both sides would take a point.
But Hurst had other ideas in the third minute of stoppage time, beating Newport goalkeeper Joe Day with a curler from the edge of the box to give his new side the perfect start to the season.
“I think it was the perfect result, but I wouldn’t say it was the perfect performance,” said Murray.
“They played at a very high tempo, they were direct and they made us defend.
“At half-time we had to get to grips with that and then I thought we got a foothold in the game and scored some really good goals.
“I’m a little bit disappointed with the goals we conceded but that comes with work.” Murray’s opposite number Warren Feeney was left to rue some sloppy defending that condemned his side to a 12th league match without a win.
But he insisted there were signs of improvement after last season’s struggles.
“It’s a cruel way to start the season,” said Feeney. “They started the better in the second half but once we got the equaliser I thought there was only going to be one winner.
“I’m gutted for my players because I thought there was enough in the changing room to get the win.
“To get done the way we did, I don’t know if it was a cross or a shot, is a very bitter pill to swallow.
“But it’s a new team and it will take time but it’s a big improvement from last season.”