Hurst: This could be a ‘big point’ in the fight

PAUL Hurst reckons the point Grimsby picked up against Colchester could prove crucial in their ongoing survival bid.

After watching relegation-rivals Barrow win on Friday, the Mariners were unable to match that result as they played out a goalless draw.

It means they are now six points adrift of safety – having played a game more.

Hurst said: “Every game is an opportunity to win. Just looking at the table itself, that could end up being a big point.

“We’re still propping the rest of the teams up, but I still see positives.

“They started better than us, for about the first ten minutes, and they certainly had a period, for about five minutes, in the second half.

“Other than that, we were the better team and half-time came at a good time for them. I felt like we were getting on top of the game, sustaining a bit of pressure and we had the chance with Lenny John-Lewis.

“But the positive for me, overall, is the clean sheet.”

Chances were few and far between in the first half, with captains John-Lewis and Harry Pell going as close as anyone to opening the scoring.

John-Lewis crashed against the bar from close range, shortly after dragging an effort wide.

Pell, meanwhile, was denied by the returning goalkeeper James McKeown, who did well to smoother his advances.

Upon the restart, Colchester forged several decent openings and – on another day – it might have been enough to earn them all three points.

Indeed, McKeown once again came up with the goods to deny former teammate Pell, while Jevani Brown had one cleared off the line by Filipe Morais.

Colchester’s interim boss Wayne Brown said: “It was always going to be a hardfought game and it’s always a difficult place to come.

“They are fighting for their lives. They are scrapping and wanted the points.

“In the second half, we dealt with their threats and nullified them to few chances.

“What pleased me the most is they stuck together as a group. You have to show character at places like this.

“I was pleased with the clean sheet and I thought we created better chances. On reflection, when you analyse the stats, you will find that we had the better opportunities to score.”