Mark Hughes on a battling victory at Scunthorpe

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Mark, three points here in Skunthor. That was a real battling display out there. Yeah. Yeah. I thought uh crazy skunk towards the end they they threw everything at it and uh you know balls are going to come into your box. You can’t keep every one of them out. But uh for the most part we we dealt with everything that they really really had. And uh yeah, I thought it was a really bing performance. um we’re going to have a lot of these games uh ahead of us and uh it’s good that we can play different types of game. Um we can get a a ball down and and knock it around. It was a bit difficult to pitch today. Bit bit soft, bit cutting up at times and um I think we we picked the right way to approach the game today. We knew they were very strong. They they they get after you look for second balls, lots of fight balls and um we match that. So that’s what we had to do today. That defensive, you know, aspect of the game today was a real team effort. You know, the amount of times Georgie was in his own box heading away, kicking away. That’s what you got to have. You You got to have that team ethic. Uh guys working exceptionally hard for each other and that’s what we had today. We needed that. Um teams don’t come here and win. Um we’re one of very few that have been able to get positive results here. So, uh we’re pleased about that. It was it was difficult game, but uh we came through it and uh yeah, we’re delighted. It’s a big big three points. Aaron Hayden returned to the side and of course his goal was the difference. I think he had a chance moments earlier from a very similar situation that he was unlucky not to score. Yeah, there I think his shirt was nearly pulled off his back just initially. So I think that just put him off but uh he wasn’t going to be deni denied um his goal. Well, I thought he was excellent today, I have to say. And um uh defensively we were very good, but the two center halfs really uh set the tone for the rest of the team and got the heads on everything. Made sure that we blocked uh opportunities for the opposition and uh yeah, defensively excellent. Second half, we we needed to play a little bit more if if I’m hyper critical. Um obviously we had the extra guy. We didn’t really um exploit that, but um in the end um it was about getting the three points and that’s what we’ve been able to do. Georgie came under a few strong challenges, especially towards the end of that first half. What was your view on those? Yeah, I wasn’t happy at all. Um it’s really in fairness the center halfs come and apologize to George, apologized to me as well. So, uh, which credit touring things happen in games and, um, you do things in the heat at the moment that probably you regret and I think he probably regretted that challenge. So, uh, um, I was more concerned really with the elbow on on Junior if I’m honest and that that could have been even more dangerous, but uh, thankfully he’s okay. You know, it’s important that, you know, we did pick up a few yellows after that, but we stayed disciplined. We got through that and, you know, we look really good. Well, initially the the referees seem to be booking our plays for very little. Uh so that’s always a worry. You know, then that you have to keep your discipline and not get anybody sent sent off. Second half, obviously that was what we mentioned at Halime is really important that we didn’t go down to 10 men because that could have been a way back for them. But u we saw the game through. Um like I said, they’re going to throw everything at it. They were uh throwing people forward, taking chances, and um that can lead to opportunities for opposition if you’re you’re not vigilant. But um yeah, we kept them at bay and and could have obviously wrapped the game up uh with the chance at the end uh from Wer. So we had some good chances in the first half as well which could have taken the game away from them. Thought Josh Williams made a real influence when he come on you know aspect and trying to drive. Well we just put him on that right hand side cuz he’s defensive minded. So we just needed just to block the game out but he carried the ball really really well. uh showed real determination, power and and pace to get beyond the the back line and uh exactly what we needed from him. Mentioned power there. Another player that certainly showed that was Josh Grant. Of course, you know, he came on for junior and you know, he got really good out there. Yeah, he adds that to us. Um um he’s played at a good level. Uh Granty and um been in good teams and and had an influence for him and that’s what he did today for us. He’s been very close to starting games. uh and he’s he’s certainly in my thoughts for games ahead of of us. Of course, the FA Cup is up next at Bruntton Park next weekend, but looking beyond that, Forest Green at home must be really looking forward to that as a group. Yeah, I mean, we’re playing playing well and getting good results because we’re working exceptionally hard and uh making it difficult for for teams to overcome us. So, we we’ve got to keep that. Um it’s it’s still early days really, but but we we’ve got a good total at the moment. We’ve just got to keep adding to that total. on the supporters finally close to 700 of them in that away and driving us right until the last minute. Yeah, I mean we we had to keep going and uh yeah, it would have been nice to score that last chance from Wie right at the death uh in front of them, but it wasn’t to be. But I’m sure they’re pleased with the the result and the performance. What was the message to the lads in the change room after a display like that? Oh, see basically we got to do two sides of it. We’ll get the ball down when we pass a move. We do that uh at great length at at home. Uh today it wasn’t that type of game. We knew what we were going to face. So we we had to show a different side and uh and we’ve come through really strongly. Thanks for your time.