Well Done Paul Hurst

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 06/05/2014

PAUL Hurst can look back on another year where Grimsby did well in every competition they entered. Town reached the last four of the league and the FA Trophy, and they were also in the final four non-league teams to be eliminated from the FA Cup.

Grimsby played 60 games in 2013-2014, so there were 14 games above and beyond the 46 normal league games, indicative of what a good season Town enjoyed. The Grimsby public were treated to some great cup games, and a total of 32 games were played at Blundell Park, 9 extra games for fans to watch without travelling. I doubt many clubs played more home games than Grimsby did this season.

Of those 60 games Grimsby lost just two by more than one goal, one of which was the second leg of the play-offs when the third Gateshead goal was down to desperation to get the ball rather than poor play. The other was the 4-0 defeat at Halifax earlier in the season. So defensively Grimsby were very strong.

Town were less effective going forward than many fans would have liked, but Paul Hurst was not helped by the unavailability of Liam Hearn due to injury. Many fans forget that Hearn managed to score 29 goals under Paul Hurst two years ago - had he been available all season Grimsby could have got a much higher points total. Strikers do not come cheaply and it was a real acheivement to reach the play-offs two years running without the main goal scorer in the team being available.

With big changes to the squad likely over the summer, there's every reason to hope that Grimsby will continue to enjoy success if they stick with Paul Hurst. With Luton no longer in the division, Town will be one of the favourites to win the ultimate prize of Champions next season. Grimsby only finished 4 points behind second placed Cambridge this season, but fielded much weakened teams in two games. Had they not done so and won those games Grimsby would have finished second.

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