Grimsby Telegraph

Boss Hurst admits to frustratio­ns with players

POOR FORM IS A GROWING CONCERN

- By SAM ALLEN sam.allen@reachplc.com

PAUL Hurst said that he shares the “frustratio­ns of the supporters” with his Grimsby Town team’s evident drop in confidence and often cautious playing style. The Mariners suffered another home defeat on Tuesday night, this time at the hands of Accrington Stanley in the Papa John’s Trophy in a contest in which Town only managed two shots on target.

An unceremoni­ous exit in the Trophy has accompanie­d a five-game winless run in the league in which supporters have challenged the team’s way of playing.

These are issues that as manager Hurst has to tackle, and he has reaffirmed that is equally frustratin­g from his point of view to see how his team are playing.

“I didn’t feel there was much in the [Accrington Stanley] game at all,” said Hurst.

“I feel it is a little bit of a missed opportunit­y as I felt we were well in the game but there were specific points where we needed more quality.

“The players have got to have a better understand­ing of the game, full stop. “We had plenty of opportunit­ies to cross the ball, but we waited and let them get set and then it was easy for them to defend. “Things like that are issues that frustrate me, I believe football should be a relatively simple game but sometimes I question the thought process of the players and the decisions they make on the pitch.” Hurst and his coaching staff will continue to try and get to the root of the problem with his players as they look to turn their form around. Whatever it is, they must find the balance between staying in control of games while taking risks in possession, something Hurst knows his team have not done well enough.

The Town manager added: “I don’t know wherever it is down to a lack of confidence, but I made a point about playing backwards too much and there are times when people are making basic errors, or not seeing a simple pass.

“We’ve got to play through it, some will get the chance to and others won’t be in the team and have got to find a way back to be more confident players, whether that is on the training pitch, coming on, or just playing through it. “Sometimes we have to go back; when the opposition have players behind the ball, I don’t want us to throw the ball forward and hope, sometimes you have to keep it.

“But, when there is an opportunit­y to go forward when the other team aren’t set and we don’t, that’s where I share the frustratio­ns of the supporters.”

 ?? JON CORKEN ?? Bryn Morris gave away the crucial penalty against Accrington
JON CORKEN Bryn Morris gave away the crucial penalty against Accrington
 ?? JON CORKEN ?? Accrington score their winner against Town
JON CORKEN Accrington score their winner against Town
 ?? ?? John McAtee was a second-half sub
John McAtee was a second-half sub
 ?? JON CORKEN ?? Grimsby Town’s Paul Hurst surveys the game from the touchline
JON CORKEN Grimsby Town’s Paul Hurst surveys the game from the touchline

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