Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst rounds-up the talking points from Saturday's thrashing of Gateshead…
On Saturday's goals
" We were trying to press, and were perhaps a bit fortunate with the back-pass for the first goal, but it was a greasy surface and we made him play it backwards. With the second goal, we won the ball back and got it to Scotty (Neilson) for a bit of magic. And with the third one – we won the ball back, played Lenny (John-Lewis) in and he was in acres of space. They play a very open style and it's very hard to play against when it's going well, but we managed to force some mistakes at good times for us. In the second half, the game opened up, Gary Mills made changes and sent out his team to get back into the game. They had to go for it and thankfully we got the fourth goal because, even at 4-1, it wasn't the most comfortable afternoon I've had as a manager on the sidelines. Maybe it was that desperation to get the victory, but it was very open and it wouldn't have surprised me if they'd have gone on and scored another couple of goals. From my point of view, I was a little disappointed with some of our defending and giving them chances, but at the same time they've committed men forward. We wanted to try and press the keeper when the opportunity arose just to test his nerve really, and we put some excellent set-plays in. That was another slight disappointment – we put some great balls in but didn't quite get it over the line."
On Scott Neilson
" We've had a little sense from him in training that he's been desperate to get back into the action. We all know what sort of character he is – a chirpy and happy lad, but at the end of the day he wants to play football. His first goal was started by us winning the ball back. It went to him and there was a great bit of skill to wriggle between some players and then a great strike. The second goal was a very cool finish on his weaker side. He gives us that ability to conjure something out of nothing, and he'll have been happy with his day's work."
On Lenell John-Lewis
" More goals are what Lenny will look for, and obviously what his team-mates and myself want as well. But I think if you ask Gateshead's two centre-backs – irrespective of them getting the better of us last season – they don't want to play against Lenny, and there will be a lot of other centre-halves that will feel the same. How strong he is and how good he is in the air – especially when you think you've got a height advantage – is the key. He missed a chance and could have possibly taken the match ball home – as did Scott with a free-kick. But Lenny is another one who can be very happy with his game on Saturday."
On the season so far
" We've had a bit of a frustrating start to the season, but I've heard Gary Mills say he had his two strikers out and that makes a massive difference. We had nine players missing for the Nuneaton game, dominated and couldn't quite get over the line. We still had a lot of players missing for Dover as well. It's a long, hard season and people have to understand that. We both feel we've got good squads and good players, and that given a fair share of luck on the injury front, both teams have shown they will be up there. In terms of the results we've had so far – a point at Bristol Rovers we would have taken all day long. With the next two, you're hoping for victories and it doesn't happen. Then we go to Gateshead and would have taken a point. You can't plan what's going to happen and football is certainly a funny old game."
