GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst insists he will be paying little attention to Southend United’s struggles when the two teams meet at Blundell Park on Friday night.

Blues, who were relegated alongside the Mariners last season, currently sit just above the National League drop zone.

But Hurst is firmly focused on his own side’s situation as they end a run of four successive defeats.

"I'm not getting caught up in what Southend's record is and whether they have been good or bad away from home," Hurst told Grimsby Live.

"We're just hoping to win the game of football. “

rDespite their recent bad run, Town still sit third in the table after adjusting to the league far better than Blues.

And Hurst feels a summer clear out was key.

"We made a lot of changes in terms of playing personnel and that clears a lot of the baggage,” said Hurst.

"Although I was here in January, the relegation hurt, of course, it did, but it didn't carry the same weight as if I'd been there at the start of the season.

“A lot of managers would have lost their job if that was the end result.

"I don't think I quite had the weight of that and the new ownership gave the fans fresh hope if you like. There are a few contributing factors that have allowed us to (turn a corner).

"Positive results always help.

“If we'd lost the first four, I'm sure the feeling would have been very different and that clearly helps.”

But Hurst knows Blues boss Kevin Maher will be desperate to turn things around.

"For Southend, they've had a change of manager,” said Hurst.

“I know the manager that has gone in now a little bit and he will be desperate to do well at his football club.

"There has been more unrest off the pitch there.

“When you talk about it, people are entitled to opinions but when it's on game day and things are still occurring, that's not going to be a positive environment.

"I'm sure that's something they will be looking at themselves.

“We've benefitted on the opposite side of that, with a lot of goodwill around the place.

"It's important we keep that, irrespective of results.

“We all want to win, of course, we do, but it's an example of how it can have an impact on your environment.