Former Ipswich Town boss Paul Hurst hailed a 'special night' for his Grimsby Town players and fans after they pulled off a huge shock in the FA Cup last night.

The Mariners, 16th in League Two, slayed Premier League Southampton 2-1 away from home to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 84 years.

It is the latest in a string of upset wins for Grimsby in this season's competition, who'd already beaten four higher league sides to reach the fifth round. 

And they stormed into a two-goal lead at St Mary's, midfielder Gavan Holohan bagging a pair of penalties either side of half-time, which proved enough for a famous win.

East Anglian Daily Times: Former Ipswich Town talent Josh Emmanuel, left, played all 90 minutes of the upset winFormer Ipswich Town talent Josh Emmanuel, left, played all 90 minutes of the upset win (Image: PA Images)

The Grimsby side included Josh Emmanuel, a former Ipswich Town player who made 29 senior appearances for the Blues before departing in September 2019.

"I'm in shock," Hurst told BBC Radio 5 Live last night. "I'm so delighted for the owners and the incredible away support.

"I (told the players) we could lose 10-0. I was saying I might have to bring a blindfold.

"It's always the fear - if a Premier League team turns up, they can blow any League Two side away."

East Anglian Daily Times: Hurst and his Grimsby Town players enjoy the winHurst and his Grimsby Town players enjoy the win (Image: PA Images)

He told Grimsby Live: "They deserve to have maybe more celebrations than they’ll probably get.

"A lot of the group are still here that enjoyed the experience of promotion and getting back to the Football League.

"They did enjoy it in the dressing room, but looking around at a few of the faces, it looked as though they were in shock, and some were a bit tired!

"I’m just pleased for them, because it’s a memory for them, a special night for the owners and the supporters and they’ll go down in history because of the way we got to the quarter-finals.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Paul Hurst only lasted 15 games as Ipswich Town boss in 2018Paul Hurst only lasted 15 games as Ipswich Town boss in 2018 (Image: PA Images)

Hurst lasted just 15 games as Town boss back in 2018, before being replaced by Paul Lambert. They were relegated from the Championship that season.

Grimsby will travel to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup quarter-finals.