Paul Hurst believes Grimsby’s players will go down in the history books after reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals with a shock 2-1 success over Premier League strugglers Southampton.
Gavan Holohan converted two penalties at St Mary’s to fire the League Two Mariners into the last eight of the competition for the first time since the Second World War.
Duje Caleta-Car pulled one back for the top-flight’s bottom side but Town held on for a memorable upset to the delight of more than 4,200 travelling fans, setting up a trip to Brighton in the next round.
Manager Hurst, who guided the club to promotion from the National League through the play-offs last term, revealed there were some stunned faces in the dressing room.
“They deserve to have maybe more celebrations than what they will get,” he said of his squad, who travel to Carlisle on Saturday.
“There’s quite a bit of the group that enjoyed that experience of winning promotion and getting back in the league.
“They did enjoy it in the dressing room. Looking around at a few of their faces, they were in shock, probably very tired as well.
“But there were a few songs and a bit of music. I’m just pleased for them.
“It’s a memory for them, for the owners, for the supporters and we go down in history because of the way we’ve got to the quarter-finals.”
Record-breakers 🤯@officialgtfc are the first side in #EmiratesFACup history to eliminate five teams from a higher division than them in a single campaign from the First Round onwards 👏 pic.twitter.com/sTdI6UKViy
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2023
Grimsby defeated League One clubs Plymouth, Cambridge and Burton and Championship side Luton en route to the fifth round.
The Mariners arrived on the south coast seeking a first FA Cup quarter-final since 1939 and were given a major boost by some inexplicable Southampton defending either side of half-time.
Following a lengthy VAR review, Lyanco conceded the first spot-kick having misjudged a header and handled a Josh Emmanuel cross before Caleta-Car petulantly slapped Danilo Orsi in the back inside the 18-yard box just after the restart.
Hurst said Irish midfielder Holohan only became designated penalty taker following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient after Anthony Glennon joined Mariners team-mate John McAtee in missing from 12 yards this term.
Asked about the significance of the result, he continued: “I’m not putting it down because, as a one-off in terms of opposition, it’s probably the best.
“But last season we were obviously promoted in an incredible sequence of games that will never be topped. It’s certainly right up there.”
VAR played a significant role on the south coast, with Hurst admitting he had forgotten it would be in use.
After Lyanco’s infringement was picked up on review, Saints substitute Theo Walcott was denied a late equaliser due to an offside spotted at Stockley Park.
Southampton boss Ruben Selles rued the costly moments of madness but refused to blame individuals as he turns his attention back to the top-flight relegation scrap.
“I am very disappointed with the performance and the result,” said the Spaniard.
“It’s just difficult when you concede those type of penalties. It was not good enough from us. Both penalties were very, very frustrating. We should not allow that to happen.”
