Paul Hurst urges Grimsby Town to 'give it a real go' in FA Cup clash

GRIMSBY Town have the freedom to go out and 'give it a real go' as they bid to start their FA Cup campaign with a bang this afternoon (3pm).

That's according to Mariners joint boss Paul Hurst ahead of his side's Fourth Qualifying Round clash against Kidderminster Harriers at Blundell Park.

Town meet Steve Burr's side for the second time in five weeks, following last month's cagey 0-0 draw at Aggborough.

On that occasion Joe Colbeck, pictured below, hit the crossbar twice as the visitors were unable to break the deadlock.

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But Hurst believes a break from league action could give his players licence to go on the attack.

He said: "It's a cup game which can sometimes give players and managers a bit of a breather from the league – and maybe a bit more freedom to go out and 'give it a real go'.

"The draw could have served up an easier tie for both teams, but equally both teams will feel they've got a pretty good chance to get through to the next round.

"Neither team would particularly want a replay – we'll certainly be going out to try and win it on the day.

"That's our aim and hopefully we can put on a performance to match the ones in our last two games at Alfreton and Telford."

The two sides have become well acquainted since the Mariners' drop into the Conference, meeting five times before today.

And Town are bidding for their first victory over the Harriers since April 2005 – when a Michael Reddy brace helped them to a 4-1 success in League Two.

"We know a lot about Kidderminster already and a lot of their players have been around the club for a while," added Hurst.

"I don't think we learnt much from the last game that we didn't already know.

"We felt we should have won that match without being at our best.

"Kidderminster were edgy early on I felt, and then improved and had a couple of headed chances themselves that they maybe should have done better with.

"But there weren't too many chances in the game and 0-0 probably wasn't a surprise looking at it as a whole."

Following that clash in Worcestershire, the Harriers have lost only once and hauled themselves off the foot of the Blue Square Bet Premier table.

Hurst said: "I don't know whether they decided to change it up or not, but they lost their last game (at Stockport County).

"But reading Steve Burr's comments, he was happy with the performance and the run they've been on.

"They've drawn a lot of games but realistically it's still a very good run compared to the way they started the season.

"So they're proving a hard team to beat at the moment and it certainly won't be easy for us."