GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst feels Southend United are not as bad as their league position suggests.

The Shrimpers sit just above the National League relegation zone following Friday night’s 1-0 defeat against Hurst’s Mariners side.

But the Town boss believes Blues will start to climb the table.

"I don't think Southend are as bad as their league position says and I'll be surprised if they don't start climbing the table,” Hurst told Grimsby Live after Grimsby’s victory.

“We wanted to get back to winning ways, it has taken longer than I would have liked but I thought we were the better team.”

Third placed Grimsby ended a run of four successive defeats by seeing off the Shrimpers.

But Hurst felt it was a nervy evening.

"While the score line was 1-0 you are always concerned, naturally,” said Hurst.

“Credit to the players for a clean sheet which is what we want on a regular basis.

“I thought we limited them to very few chances and never looked in too much danger."