Mark Hughes speaks on Carlisle United survival possibilities ahead of match against league leaders

Mark Hughes Carlisle United.
United host Port Vale on Friday before travelling to take on Accrington Stanley on Monday. Credit: ITV Border

Carlisle United Head Coach Mark Hughes insists his side are now going into every match with belief as they look to put together a dramatic run of form to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

Back to back wins for the first time in more than two years against Newport County and Morecambe have given United a chance of Football League survival ahead of the Bank Holiday double header where they host table-topping Port Vale before travelling to take on fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley.

The victory away to Derek Adams' Morecambe has seen the Blues climb off of the foot of the table thanks to goals from Georgie Kelly and Terrell Thomas.

The Blues host Port Vale on Friday afternoon before travelling to take on fellow relegation rivals Accrington Stanley on Monday. Credit: ITV Border

Hughes spoke of the importance the role the Blues supporters played in the victory.

He said: "It was great, really important last time here as well.

"Given the circumstances of the game they stuck with us and we were able to turn it around and I said to the group the difference we had between winning, drawing or losing that game was because of the supporters.

"We will try and give them something to get behind. That is what we have been able to do in the last couple of games and you could see their reaction to that."

The back to back wins have given Hughes' side a chance of ensuring they will not suffer back to back relegations.

Hughes believes that the upturn in form is down to one thing. He said: "I think what we are seeing is a team that has more confidence and more belief in what they are doing.

Mark Hughes believes there is more confidence amongst his players. Credit: PA Images

"It takes time to get to that point and probably more time than I would have liked but I feel like we are at that point now. Just in terms of what they are producing at training it is a different level and a different intensity.

"I have always advocated that you have to train like you want to play and that is what we are doing now."

With 12 points still to play for United are six from safety with a tough challenge still ahead of them.

Hughes said: "We have to accept that the season that we have had people are well within their rights to think we are not capable of that and that belief was gone well before I came in the door.

"From our point of view we are going into every game believing now, not just hoping that we are going to do okay, we are expecting to do more than that and if you expect to play well then you have more of a chance of fulfilling that."


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