After Carlisle United’s 2-2 stalemate against Southend United, we spoke to Head Coach Mark Hughes.
Speaking to CUTV, Hughes spoke on a positive start to the game, being unable to see it out and positives to take.
Here is everything we learnt:
1. A tale of two halves
“We played really well in that first half, deserved lead, could have been more. I think we were probably guilty of just trying to protect what we had.
“We just needed calm heads, just get the job done and see the game out but unfortunately we didn't manage that.”
2. Game management
“You know that the opposition are going to come out and the next goal is the important one. Time and time again you see those leads being reduced, it's always about the next goal, if we'd have scored that 3-0 the game would have been over.
“So it was important to get that next goal, but credit to them, they forced us back, put a couple of balls in the box and we didn't deal, thrashed away at them and unfortunately they ricocheted past Gabe (Breeze).”
3. Ruing a missed opportunity
“Their outside centre-back stepped in more than they did in the first half, and obviously they got higher up the pitch and got better numbers in wider positions that allowed them to put the ball in the box.
Up to their first goal they hadn't really created anything, so it's disappointing obviously to know that we should see that game more comfortably.”
4. Fast start
“You can't get any better really and that's what we talked about, we could set traps for them and recognise when we need to press and we have to press not individually but collectively and that's what we did on that occasion.
“We were good value for that and the second goal at half-time as well.”
5. Regan Linney back in the goals
“He (Linney) knows he's got limitations in terms of when his defensive work is needed but I thought he was good in that regard today and that's good for him.
“I think at times when he gets that right it allows him good opportunity because he does his defensive work and it allows him to break and the guys that he's up against are in higher positions and he can exploit him behind them so yeah, I thought he did well today and obviously the goal is going to help his confidence as well.”
6. A fine move for our second
“It was a good move all round. David (Ajiboye) obviously carried the ball, fed Ryan (Galvin), great ball on the move and yeah, I think Georgie (Kelly) just ran the defender underneath the ball.
“Regan (Linney had to dispatch it which he did, in that position you fully expected him to score and that's what happened.”
7. A home debut for Hayden Atkinson
“I thought he (Atkinson) did okay, he's a young man finding his way, it's a hard decision to make. Jack (Ellis) obviously was feeling his leg in the week so I felt it was important that we were sound so I started with Hayden again.
“I thought he did well, settled into the game and was fine, yeah and then Jack was able to come on just for a 20 minute cameo at the end which is probably all he needed today.”
8. Luke Armstrong out of action
“Luke unfortunately was ill overnight, so yeah, sickness and diarrhoea unfortunately so he was wiped out so he wasn't an option for us.
“You always want someone like Luke available to give you that energy top end of the pitch but I felt the lads, Georgie I thought played well tonight and he was always trying to get in line of the ball and affect the opposition. Ideally you want Luke because of the energy that he brings to the team.”
9. Raising the roof
“Yeah it was a great crowd, big numbers, sorry we weren't able to win the game in the end but we need to manage the game better.”
10. Looking ahead To Aldershot
“It'll be a rest day tomorrow, we'll come in and train prior to travelling down there and then we'll play the game.”
