We spoke to Mark Hughes following our narrow defeat to Newport.
Mark began with his overall thoughts: “It was frustrating. I thought it was a decent performance tonight.
“We got plenty of bodies in the box on numerous occasions. I feel for the guys because they're not getting the breaks that their football deserves. I think we had something like 33 touches in the opposition box and when you get those numbers then you expect things to drop for you.
“At the moment they're not. The opposition go up the other end and I think score with the one shot they had on target. So it does seem a little bit unfair.
“But that's football unfortunately and we've all been in these situations where you don't get what you deserve. So we can't let it affect us. I think we've got to take the positives in terms of how we took the game as an away team.”
“I think we've just got to keep on being positive. I think the quality is there and the application and the willingness to really push hard and try and make things happen. But you've got to have that calmness and that clarity of thought in the top end of the pitch.
“It's really important that you're able to sense what needs to be done when you're in those tight areas in the box. Sometimes it just comes down to the basics of putting your foot through the ball and seeing what happens. At times you can be guilty of trying to make the perfect goal with the perfect pass.
“Sometimes just an ugly opportunity is the one that will get you the goal. So sometimes we try and be a little bit too precise when really we just need to be a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more adept really at understanding what's required. And that physicality that you need in the box.
“Obviously when chances and balls are dropping there you need to be the first one to get on the end of things. So we're just missing that part of a game at the moment and that doesn't allow us to capitalise.”
Kyle Hudlin’s goal was Newport’s only shot on target, we put it to Mark that it felt like that sums up our luck at the moment. He responded: “Yeah but we can't be downbeat about it. We've got to take the positives in terms of how we're trying to play and we're getting more shots on target.
“We had something like 14 or 15 shots I think today. So if we keep getting those numbers at some point our luck will change and those shots will start flying in and we'll go on and run like Newport have. They were struggling four games ago.
“They've been able to find a way to hang on in games and then smash and grab a couple of games. It's exactly like the game they had against Morecambe here. I watched that game and very, very similar circumstances.
“So we're in a situation that we have to get ourselves out of. It's a shame for the lads tonight. I thought they'd put a real shift in but we're not getting the rub of the green at the moment.”
Mark gave an update on Jordan Jones, who was missing through injury. He said: “Yeah it's not quite right yet.
“So yeah I went with the lads that started the weekend just for a little bit of consistency and continuity. So I thought the lads that started tonight were good. Tried to freshen them up as well as we can and I think the lads that came on helped as well.
“It was just unfortunate to concede once again. The minimum we should have taken out of the game was a point but we've come away with nothing again. So we'll pick them up and we'll go again.
“We're looking forward to the game at the weekend. It's a real opportunity to show in the short space of time that we're really pushing and trying to make things happen and trying to turn the situation around.
“It's been tough for the guys but we'll be back on home soil with plenty of support and we'll go again.”
On the arrival of Matthew Dennis, Mark said: “I thought it was important to do that one.
“I think we do need that physicality, he's not had a great deal of football so a lot of the guys probably aren't up to speed and at times that shows in our play. So we'll work hard on that aspect of our play as well just to try and get everybody on an even keel and allow us to get to the end of games and be as strong as when we start.”
We asked Mark if Saturday was now a must win, he answered: “No, not at all, we've got games to come, we've just got to go on a run.
“It'd be great to start with a home win, that's obviously imperative that we do start winning at home and I see no reason why we can't. We've just got to start putting the ball in the back of the net.
“Sounds easy, if I say it quickly, doesn’t it? But we've just got to keep on believing and I've got great belief in the guys, they're a good bunch and they're giving everything that they can, but at the moment rub of the green and a little ricochet not going their way is hampering us at the moment. But we'll go again at the weekend, we're looking forward to it.”
Finally, on the fans, Mark said: “What a great effort, I mean it's a huge effort and for a midweek fixture and for them to come and cheer us on, they clapped us once again at the end. They can see that we're so close to turning this run around and they'll be there again on Saturday, no doubt, so we've just got to turn it around for them.”
