Green has key role in Mariners’ tactical plan
HURST EXPLAINS THE TOWN SET-UP
PAUL Hurst returned to a set-up that had been successful earlier in the season for Grimsby Town as the Mariners beat Cambridge United 2-1 in the FA Cup to progress to the third round to face Burton Albion. Hurst has now highlighted Kieran Green’s role in implementing that set-up to great success.
The 25-year-old put in a battling display sitting just in front of the back four, much like he did to great success away at Stockport County, which gave Town a level of control in midfield and limited Cambridge’s goalscoring opportunities.
Playing the 4-1-4-1 shape with a level of fluidity allowed one of the midfielders ahead of Green to push forward when Grimsby were attacking giving the team a strong level of balance, helped by the defensive midfielder’s hard work in and out of possession. Hurst said: “He’s combative and I get that sometimes there’s an element of making his own life difficult but he won a couple of great tackles [against Cambridge]. He came off the pitch with a big cut on his leg and said his leg had gone dead.
“I don’t know if that improved his passing! He’s a warrior and he did the job that was asked of him, competed in the air a lot in front of the two centre halves and got us through. “I’m pleased for him because we had a good chat prior to the game so I was very pleased that he was a part of that performance and that victory.”
There was a level of uncertainty in the Town boss’ thought process in the week building up to the Cambridge game, because of the mixed results and performances of his team. Solidity was at the forefront of his thinking - hence why Green was placed where he was to provide that extra layer of defence.
“It does give us that extra man in the middle,” added Hurst. “Depending on how we go sometimes it is normally two midfielders and then a more attacking player in front of that which still should be a three of some kind.
“[Green] certainly gives us protection, especially when you’re up against a forward like [Joe] Ironside, he’ll go and compete for every ball in the air. He didn’t win all his headers but he won his fair share and made life difficult for them and provided a good screen for the defence.
“Then there is the next aspect of playing that way, which is when we release a midfield player in attack he has to be ready to push. We talked about just being solid, because in truth, at the start of the week, I was scratching my head a little bit about what to go with.”