Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Solihull Moors, we spoke to Head Coach Mark Hughes.
Speaking after a busy week on the training pitch, Hughes discussed the lessons taken from the Isuzu FA Trophy exit, the importance of momentum in the league and the confidence he feels within the group.
Here is everything we learnt:
1. Putting last weekend into perspective
“We moved on quite quickly. We felt we had enough quality to win the game and didn’t deserve to lose it. We were beaten by a very good free-kick, which was frustrating because we’d highlighted that threat, but apart from that they didn’t create much. We didn’t do enough to win, but it’s one you move on from.”
2. Positives from a disappointing afternoon
“No one likes losing, but there were positives. We got minutes into Bevis Mugabi and Chris Conn-Clarke, and that was really important. They’ve benefited from that this week and they’re very much in my thinking for the weekend.”
3. Valuable experience for young players
“Giving Amaru [Smith] and Seb [Mason] minutes was important. If you want to look at the glass half full, giving young lads a taste of senior football is massive for their development. They’ve earned it with how hard they work in training.”
4. High standards in training
“The good thing with the youngsters is the level never drops when they come in. They can deal with the demands we put on the senior lads, which means sessions stay competitive and cohesive.”
5. Fitness picture improving
“We’re in decent shape going into the weekend. Terell Thomas is on track with no setbacks, Stephen Wearne is back training, and while Jordan Jones is still struggling with his injury, we’ve had our biggest group in training for a while, which is really positive.”
6. Securing key loanees early
“It was important to get Chris [Conn-Clarke] and Gilly (Alex Gilliead) sorted. They’re a big part of what we want to do between now and the end of the season. There was always a desire from them to be here, which helped get the deals done.”
7. A strong start for Ryan Galvin
“Ryan’s looked really good. He’s played a lot of games in this league and the one above, and he adds competition and quality to the group. I’m confident he’ll be a success here.”
8. Momentum heading into a crucial period
“I’m big on momentum and we’ve got that in the league. We’re coming into a key stage of the season and the Trophy result doesn’t affect that for me - it’s about getting players fit, sharp and ready for what’s ahead.”
9. Respect for the challenge at Solihull Moors
“We drew with them earlier in the season and people maybe thought it was an easier fixture, but there are good teams in this league. They’re scoring a lot of goals at the moment, so we have to be mindful, but if we play as well as we can, we’ll be fine.”
10. Backed by brilliant away support
“Our travelling support has been great. For the most part we’ve given them good value with performances and results on the road, and with over 600 going to Solihull, we’ll be looking to do that again this weekend.”
