We spoke to Mark Hughes following the defeat to Chesterfield.
Speaking to CUTV, Mark said: “It was really difficult for us this evening. Clearly, it started off badly. We lost Matty Dennis in the pre-match warm-up, so we had to make a change there.
“Then we had Sean [Fusire], who had a really bad nosebleed, we couldn't stop it. So he had to come off very early. Embo [Elliot Embleton] comes on, gets sent off.
“I have to look at that again, I'm not sure. I thought it was one of those unfortunate ones. He's got the lad on the achilles, they're painful, but does it warrant sending off? I'm not sure. I need to see a clear enough image of that.
“The referee and certainly his officials weren't great for us tonight, unfortunately. So we had to make changes, had to change our shape, change personnel, obviously, right through the game. We just had to keep the energy.
“We had to take Georgie Kelly off at half-time because we needed the ability to make substitutions in the last stage of the game because we knew we'd tire, given we were down to 10 men. So almost everything that went against us happened tonight. It's very difficult to win games like this against good opposition, in fairness, if you haven't got the tools to do the job.
“That's where we were towards the end of the game.”
The fourth official spoke to the referee to advise on sending Elliot Embleton off, Mark spoke on the situation further:
“Well, he [the fourth official] told the referee that it was a sending off, which is his prerogative.
“He did say that he didn't have any communication with the referee, but he was able to get that message on. Somebody's not telling the truth there. We're disappointed.
“They seemed intent on stifling us and making it more difficult than it needed to be. It was always going to be difficult. We needed just to keep a foothold in the game, and we did for 70-odd minutes.
“Then, obviously, once they got the goal, it was more difficult again. We showed a good response. We got a goal, I’m pleased with Joe.
“Thankless task up there on his own, but kept going, tried to close people down and got his goal. So, yeah, I feel for him. I was more concerned at the weekend, really, in terms of what we managed to produce.
“Tonight was difficult under the circumstances, and they kept going, which is what I wanted to see tonight.”
Mark was happier with the character shown. Despite the result.
“They had to dig in. Listen, they make mistakes in individual battles and 1v1s. Sometimes we don't come out with the ball when we should. Other times, we don't dictate to the opposition, but those are things that have been prevalent, certainly since I've come in.
“We work on them, talk about them. It's about being able to do it when the game's flying around you. For the most part, we did decent enough work, correct work, but on the occasions where we didn't quite get close enough or didn't attach ourselves to people in the box, that's when they get their chances, and that's when the game goes away from us.
“So, difficult for us tonight. Like I said, we didn't really have enough opportunities to really ask enough questions of them as soon as the sending off occurred.”
Georgie Kelly started his first game for United in some time, Mark spoke on him:
“Yeah, I thought he did really well. Obviously, we know we're going to lose Matty Dennis, so we couldn't afford to lose Georgie as well.
“So, we had to protect him. You give him this good 45 minutes, he'll do a world of good, and he'll be okay for the weekend. A number of them are doubtful.
“Obviously, we lost our captain as well, Sam [Lavelle], which I thought was a strange challenge from their player. I think actually, he swung around and hit Sam in the face. The referee's five yards away, doesn't see that, doesn't think that it merits any retribution or anything.
“Basically, our captain goes off as a consequence of a tackle. Their guy stays on the pitch, but the one who did the tackle is sent off. So, it's a bit of an anomaly there.”
On Matty Dennis, who pulled out after the warm up, Mark explained:
“It looks like he's pulled his hamstring, unfortunately. Just right at the death there, he was just on a shooting in practice and just felt it go.”
On Sean Fusire, Mark said:
“Yeah, it was an opportunity. He was starting the game and he's looked really good in training and really didn't get started in the game. Got the bang on the nose and we couldn't stop it.
“But he'll be alright at the weekend. He'll get more opportunity.”
On Cameron Harper, who was missing after his concussion. We aksed Mark if he’d also be missing on Saturday, he responded:
“Yeah, I think that's the case.
“So, we're missing quite a few influential players for us tonight and as the night progressed, it got worse, steadily worse. So, just got to draw a line under the game tonight. It was always going to be a difficult ask for us tonight, even if we had a full complement.
“But we stayed in the game. I think we've got to take that as a positive, but no points again. So, we have to go for maximum points.”
On Stephen Wearne:
“Yeah, he's got a spasm in his back. Yeah, the last few days it’s been really sore.
“It's not loosened off to any great extent. So, hopefully he'll be okay. We'll see him Thursday and hopefully he'll be okay for us.”
The gap remained at nine points for the Blues, with Tranmere also losing.
“We're running out of games. That's the reality of it.
“So, yeah, there's no change in terms of the position that we're in, in terms of the points we're behind. So, yeah, games are getting short now.”
