Following United’s 5-2 win over Boston United in the Emirates FA Cup, which saw the Blues progress into the first round, we spoke to Head Coach Mark Hughes.
Speaking to CUTV, he said: “Before the game, we talked about we wanted to be in the draw for the next round, so we completed that.
“We scored five goals, some good individual performances collectively, certainly first half I thought was excellent.
“We're probably a little bit disappointed with the ten minutes after the break, but we regrouped and just took the game away from them again, so credit to the lads, they didn't panic at that point. Really pleased with the performance and the result.”
Hughes was keen to point out the strength of his squad, having made several changes from the Blues' 1-0 win at Scunthorpe United last time out.
“The lads in and around the squad deserve game time, and they've got my trust.
“I know they can do the job I ask of them, and they were exceptional in the first half, so I'm really pleased for them.
“Some of the guys have been on the edges of things but come into good effect, all in all, the squad's looking really healthy at the moment.”
David Ajiboye and Josh Grant were among those who came into the side, and both got on the scoresheet early in the first half.
“That's important for them. They've been great since they've come to the club, really positive in and around the group, so really pleased for them on an individual basis that they've been able to make their mark.
“We talked about obviously trying to release David (Ajiboye) and the types of runs he needed to make, and pretty much the goal he scored illustrated what we talked about, so that was pleasing from our point of view because he's taken on board good information and made it work in the game, which is what we want.”
On the combination of Ajiboye and Josh Williams on the United right flank, he said: “Good combinations all afternoon, and they complemented each other really well.
“Both have a threat going forward and can take people on in the final third, so yeah, pleased for them both.”
It was a special day for Grant, who found the net on his birthday,
“We don't expect that from him. That's not what he's known for.
“He's a good player, he can link things, and he's pleased that he's got on the end of something and it goes, really positive day for him as well.”
Luke Armstrong grabbed the third goal of the afternoon with a sharp finish.
“I thought Luke's (Armstrong) goal arguably was the best of the goals.
“Great move, great finish, Luke always gives everything in every game he plays, and he stands to obviously add to his total, and this year he's going to score a lot of goals for us.”
Harry Lewis returned to the side to start in goal. On the Blues stopper, he said: “He made a couple, certainly at 3-2, he made an outstanding save, and they just caught us on the hop.
“The initial goal, they changed their shape and went up with two up top, and that just maybe distracted us.
“I don't know, we'll get into the details of it obviously when we come together again, but 3-1, you think okay, that's a warning, but then you're always at risk at set plays.
“Sometimes, if they put a perfect ball into a good area, then you're always at risk, and they were able to get a good purchase on the second goal.
“(At) 3-2, I'm not quite sure how we got into that situation but like I said, we stayed calm at that point and just got a play going, got our football and what we were trying to do before and what we did in the first half, we got that going again in that period and eventually took the game away from them.”
New signing Chris Conn-Clarke scored a brace on his debut, sealing the victory in the second half.
“I think everybody saw today the quality he's got; he's a quality player in terms of his understanding of what can hurt opposition.
“He's technically very, very good, low centre of gravity, very difficult to get the ball off him, manipulates the ball really well and sees passes, one or two passes ahead of everybody else, so on that basis he's going to be really influential for us.
“We're delighted it finally got done; it was a long time coming.
“I had to keep quiet for probably a month and a half while we were waiting for something to happen, but thankfully it did, and we're really pleased that he's here.”
On Conn-Clarke, he continued: “I think he showed everybody what he can bring to the team and the squad; he's got great vision; the top end of the pitch is really down to him.
“From my experience there, top end of the pitch is sometimes difficult just to see those pictures that you need to see, but he looks like he's got real clarity in terms of he understands where everybody is, what they need, what type of ball they need and that appreciation of passes is really important and he showed that to a great extent.
“All game in fairness, and the goals were a bonus, really pleased for him in that regard.”
“I think it's two sessions he's got under his belt so far. He's scoring goals in training, and I think the club posted one of them, which took everybody's breath away when we saw it, so we know he's got that potential.
“But there are a lot of players that are great in training and find it difficult to produce in games, but it doesn't look like Chris (Conn-Clarke) is going to be one of those players.”
On the Northern Irishman’s goals, he said: “There are lots of different elements to his play, he's always trying to be positive in his play, if it's a strike on goal, if it's a cross into good areas or if it's a pass with the appreciation that it needs, he's able to find that appropriate pass.
“We're really pleased he's here. He's a high-level player, one that's going to help us clean.
“He said himself he can play right across the front three, so that gives me flexibility as well in terms of if we've got players missing or players not quite at their level that they need to.
“That's competition as well, so we're really pleased, not only with his performance but his influence on the group as well. I think everybody enjoyed that first half because I think everybody was comfortable in terms of what we were trying to do.”
Josh Williams was on the receiving end of a robust challenge in the second half.
“No, he's okay. It was a late tackle, and it could have been worse, but he's okay.”
Sam Hetherington also returned to the match-day squad and featured in the last ten minutes of the second half.
“Sam's (Hetherington) really popular in the group, he's a nice kid and he missed out last year at the last game of the season and I was trying to get him involved, get him on the pitch but he's had to buy this time, got injured in pre-season so that set him back but he's a good player, good energy, can run all day so I'm really pleased I was able to get him on.”
Regan Linney and Gabe Breeze were rested ahead of a crucial league fixture with Forest Green Rovers next weekend: “That was part of the thinking, I made some of the seven or eight changes and it was more because a few of the guys put in a big shift in the opening period of the season and a few of them were creaking and it was an opportunity just to protect a few and thankfully we've been able to do that.
On Junior Luamba, he said: “No, Junior (Luamba) had a bad whack, so we've just got to make sure all the protocols are correct and then if we can get him back into training.
After getting the job done against Boston, Hughes looked forward to the draw for the next round: “The order of the day was to get in the draw, and that's what we've done, so once you realise that and you get the job done, then you can look forward to the draw and all that anticipation that that brings.”
