Hughes feels Blues win "not far away" despite Gills blank - Iqraa news

Mark Hughes insists the moment that can turn Carlisle United’s season is “not far away” despite their latest stalemate against Gillingham.

The Blues failed to make the most of some good chances in a second consecutive 0-0 draw at Brunton Park.

Carlisle reduced their gap to survival to five points with 14 games to go, but the win that can breathe real life into their safety hopes remains elusive – with their shortcomings in front of goal still the major issue.

Hughes was pleased with United’s effort and endeavour against John Coleman’s side but says they must be less “predictable” when opportunities come along.

On the wait for goals, head coach Hughes said: “I just think there would be a massive shift in the confidence of the group if and when we get that result.

“We all feel that it's not far away.

“We've got a local derby [against Barrow on Thursday] coming up and what better way to get back to winning ways than winning that?

“We need to get maximum points sooner rather than later, that's the key to it.”

Carlisle’s second point in four games under Hughes came after a number of chances went begging, with Matt Dennis, Cedwyn Scott, Joe Hugill and Sam Lavelle coming closest.

At the other end, Elliott Nevitt hit the bar for Gillingham. It meant United kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time this season, but they have won just once in their last ten games.

“Conditions weren't easy, I think in the first half the wind was probably stronger, by the second half it seemed to have blown itself out a little bit so it was easier for them in terms of having the benefit of the wind, whereas in the first half I thought it was really blowing and taking too many of our balls forward out of play,” Hughes said.

Matt Dennis failed to make the most of some good opportunities (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I'm pleased enough with the performance. I felt it was worthy of a win. I felt we made enough chances – enough good chances – to have won the game.

“I think people can see a lot of good things in what we're doing, but it just needs to be topped off with winning goals, which is what we're lacking at the moment.”

Hughes said Carlisle need more “clarity of thought” in their decision-making when big chances come along.

He said that “repetition” in training was the way to try and get players firing in front of goal.

“We’ll keep on putting more information into them but there'll be repetition of messages as well,” said Hughes.

“A lot of the things we did [on Saturday] were exactly what we needed, so those messages will be imparted again, but repetition work is what you do as a coaching team and it needs to be a little bit more instinctive in the box at the moment.

“We're a little bit too predictable or take too much care in terms of getting the correct touch on the ball.

“You've just got to hit the ball. I'm saying the same things that I said last week [after the 0-0 draw with Colchester United] but they applied again.

“It'll come, I'm encouraged by the effort and what the lads are giving me at the moment, they just need the reward of a winning goal if we can get it.”

Gillingham came close in the first half but United did the bulk of the attacking the longer things went on.

“They had the shot against the bar, but overall I don't think we came under too much pressure,” said Hughes.

“Their forward line was good, of course there were a few problems physically but we stood up to that, and in terms of chances we clearly had more than them.

Kadeem Harris created a number of chances to no avail (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I think we had something like four or five shots on target, 15 shots overall, so in good situations we've just got to go that final step and get it over the line.”

Carlisle’s opponents Gillingham are now winless in 12 and, asked if it was ultimately a chance missed by United, Hughes said: “A point is a positive point. It's not exactly what we'd hope for but in fairness to Gillingham they've become quite resolute at the moment.

“Their game management was quite good in terms of slowing the game down, taking their time on restarts, and that became frustrating at points during the game.”

The head coach, meanwhile, admitted he was bemused by the second-half moment when Gills striker Nevitt went to ground in the box under Gabe Breeze’s challenge, but neither a penalty nor a dive was given by ref Scott Jackson.

“I’ve no idea [about that], if I'm honest, so I'll leave that to the officials,” Hughes said. “But you'll always find at this level that there will be some decisions that will mystify both sides.”