Grimsby Town joint boss Paul Hurst rounds up the latest issues at Blundell Park.
ON THE WEMBLEY EXPERIENCE...
" The overriding feeling is one of disappointment because we went to go and win the trophy and we didn't manage to do that. It is a massive disappointment for everyone concerned but from our point of view, as staff and players, we've got to pick ourselves up pretty quickly for tonight's game at Gateshead, which is a very important match. Whatever the result was at Wembley, we were never going to have long to dwell on it because the league games comes around so quickly. It's very easy to feel sorry for yourself and feel down but you've got to roll your sleeves up and get on with your jobs."
ON GATESHEAD
" They've obviously changed manager since then, but when we played them last they were a very well-drilled, well-organised side, playing three in midfield and looking to play out from the back. I think that's changed slightly and I think it's been more 4-4-2 of late. At the weekend, by all accounts, they were the better team in the first half and went in at 0-0 but ended up losing 3-0 at Dartford. So they'll be keen to get some more points on the board because a lot of the other teams down there are picking up points. Gateshead have got some good players, who can hurt you and have some experience but for whatever reason, it hasn't worked for them. But it will be far from easy and we know that. It will be a big ask but I'm sure the team that we put out will give us everything. It's at Hartlepool. That could help us in the fact that it's a neutral ground and it will be interesting to see how many of our fans will go up there. Obviously at the weekend, they went to Wembley and gave us great support and it's asking them to dig in their pockets again for what will be a bitterly cold night again. On the other hand, there's a question as to how many Gateshead fans there will be there. It will be very much a different atmosphere, so much so that we'll almost need to create our own atmosphere. Will it suit us? I'll be able to tell you at about 10 o'clock tonight. I want to get back to that winning feeling – I want that more than anything. It will be a difficult game but we're not going up there with the intention of anything less than winning the game."
ON INJURIES…
" Craig Disley and Frankie Artus are carrying knocks and are both very stiff. There are a few more on top of that who are very stiff. Frankie felt his hamstring after 20 minutes in the final. We're hoping that it's just a bit of Sciatica rather than anything else because he managed to complete the game and did very well. That's credit to him because he wanted to be out there. Craig came through but then he felt his knee. Again we're just hoping that is just the workload. Both may well be okay and may be involved with us tonight but they didn't join in with the recovery session that the players did. I don't think it's anything too serious with either of them. But they're certainly both doubts for tonight. Derek Niven is still not quite right. He hasn't made the injury worse but it's just a case of waiting for that pain to go away and we're not too sure how long that will be. Certainly we're hopeful that Derek will be available to be involved in some of the games next week, but it's about taking it one day at a time. Liam (Hearn) be in the squad. He is not ready to start but whether we put him on the bench to try and have an impact from there is a decision we'll have to make. He is in our thoughts but he's certainly not ready to start a game."
ON TEAM SELECTION...
" We've got to pick a team that gives us the best opportunity of winning tonight and we've got to look at the lads that did play on Sunday and judge whether they've got another 90 minutes in them. Others will have to play and get on with it – we can't change all 11, but it is going to be a team selection that takes a lot of thought. I think a lot of the lads who didn't play on Sunday will come into contention. Then it's a case of picking who we feel are able to play another game so soon. We hope there is a bit of frustration from Sunday and that they are disappointed and angry so we take it out on Gateshead."
ON THE PROMOTION RACE…
" That top spot looks unlikely but if we get in the play-offs, who knows? As I've said before, if we are to get in the play-offs, the chances are that we will have picked up some good results along the way. I do still feel that there will be some more twists and turns along the way but we've just got to make sure that we do our job and get in the position and then, over two games, we'd fancy ourselves. The aim is the play-offs and it would be great to get another trip to Wembley – you never get tired of playing there. I'm sure we'd take even more fans and hopefully it will be a different result for them next time round. After the initial disappointment on Sunday, thoughts turned to the fact that we've still got a chance of going back to Wembley again. Were we better to get to Wembley and lose or go out to Buxton in the First Round? I know which one I'd rather choose. It would be great to go back there again and give ourselves the opportunity of being promoted, which has been the aim from day one. There is a lot of hard work to do and it will take a massive effort from everyone for us to do that. Macclesfield have got some difficult games but that said, they've done quite well against the teams up there and they'll fancy their chances. Forest Green are not on a very good run at all but you look at their fixtures on paper and, without being disrespectful to who they're playing, I'm sure they'll think they have a chance. They've also had a good rest period so they'll be fresh going into those games."
