Grimsby Town told to remain positive against Hull City

PAUL Hurst has ordered Grimsby Town's players to "get their heads up" ahead of tonight's friendly against Hull City.

The Mariners host a Tigers' development squad at Blundell Park as their pre-season build-up continues.

With little more than two weeks until the Conference season begins, at home to Aldershot Town, preparations for the new campaign are now at full tilt.

And after the 'disappointment' of Tuesday's home defeat to Bradford City, the Town joint boss wants to see a positive reaction from his squad.

"In the dressing room I sensed there was a bit of disappointment after Tuesday and the players were a bit down," Hurst said.

"That's never a bad thing – you don't want them to be happy when we lose a game.

"But we've said to them that there are so many positives to take from it and they need to get their heads up. They need to think about their performances and listen to the feedback we're giving them.

"They're taking onboard new things we're working on, it's a new system for the majority of the players, and we're putting some good passages of play together.

"I was pleased – as much as you can be when you lose a game. There were some good individual performances and a good team performance.

"We know it's not about results at this stage and again there were some positive signs there."

Following the Lincolnshire Senior Cup loss at Scunthorpe last weekend, the Mariners haven't hit the back of the net for two matches.

But Hurst insists his side shouldn't be judged on their displays against League One and Two opposition.

He added: "Ultimately, we're playing against better teams than who are in our league currently, and better defenders."

"We still created a few chances on Tuesday night and we're confident that with the strikers and forward players that we've got, the goals will come.

"Tonight we're up against a different kind of test and hopefully can get on the scoresheet.

"We definitely looked sharper from Saturday and, although we changed it around, some of the players looked better for the time they were on or for the 90 minutes.

"So, in our eyes, it's all good at the moment."