Paul Hurst says Grimsby have to ‘start scoring tap-ins’ after Abo Eisa stunner

Posted Sunday, August 27, 2023 by PA

Grimsby boss Paul Hurst says the Mariners cannot keep relying on rockets from Abo Eisa after they drew 1-1 at Walsall.

Eisa unleashed a 25-yard thunderbolt to give Grimsby the lead against the run of play at the Bescot Stadium.

That was the striker’s third long-range goal in as many games and he also nearly added another soon after but was denied by the crossbar.

And after Walsall rescued a late, but deserved, point through Ryan Stirk’s close-range finish, Hurst warned his side they need to start scoring ugly goals as well as beautiful ones.

“It was another one to add to the ‘goal of the season’ contenders – he will have his own section at this rate,” Hurst admitted.

“We know what he’s capable of and he nearly had another one. He’s in a good place but we can’t rely on wonder strikes – we’ve got to start scoring tap-ins.

“With the best will in the world, he’s not going to keep doing that every single game.

“It took another fantastic strike to put us in front, and then there’s an element of fortune with their goal but if you don’t score more than one when you’re on top, that’s what can happen.

“A point away is always not to be sniffed at but having got in front and felt like we started to dominate the game, I’m disappointed.

“If we played at that tempo from the off we might have seen a different result.”

Walsall dominated the first half but Mariners goalkeeper Jake Eastwood twice denied both Ross Tierney and Tom Knowles.

However, Saddlers boss Mat Sadler was unhappy Eastwood did not concede a penalty when he crashed into Tierney as they challenged for a high ball early on.

“Is it a fair point? Yes,” said Sadler, whose side ended with 10 men after Chris Hussey received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a poor challenge on Toby Mullarkey.

“But I think we should be without question taking a spot-kick from 12 yards in the first 15 minutes and then it’s a completely different game.

“It is 100 per cent a penalty – Ross gets punched in the face and he’s got a black eye from it. These moments change games and it’s a stonewall spot-kick.

“In the way their thunderbolt strike changes the game in their favour, that might have changed the game for us.

“Their goal really knocked the stuffing out of us but my lads gave absolutely everything to make sure they didn’t concede again because we were under the cosh for a while.

“I was proud they dug in, stuck together, and we came out of it with what I believe we deserved.”