Hughes says Stanley are in dreamland ‘We couldn’t see where the next win was coming from’

MARK Hughes admits never in his wildest dreams did he expect Accrington Stanley to be in the position they currently find themselves in.

Stanley are one win away from securing their promotion, and Hughes says that even after Boxing Day he didn’t expect this scenario to unfold.

“If someone had said that after our Boxing Day loss to Carlisle, which made it five defeats on the bounce, you wouldn’t have believed it,” he told the club’s official website.

“We couldn’t see where the next win was coming from never mind going on the run we have. The game after at Grimsby, we went back to basics and we have never looked back since.

“It’s been a collective effort. We have kept three clean sheets in a row as a defence but everyone is working hard in front of us and we are just mopping up.

“I know the gaffer doesn’t make subs but there is quality on the bench and we know, if we don’t play well, they are pushing us. It’s everyone at the club – but we haven’t won anything yet.

“We know we need one win but I am experienced enough to know that football can bite you on your backside, we won’t be getting ahead of ourselves.”

Stanley’s last game saw them pick up a 1-0 win over Colchester United, their third straight 1-0 victory, and Hughes says that was a big win for the team.

“It’s not 1-0 to the Arsenal anymore, it’s 1-0 to the Accy. That’s 83 points from 40 games,” he said.

“We knew Colchester would be a tight game and the first goal was absolutely massive. It was like slow motion where I was watching it, I could see the spin on the ball and could have gone anywhere and it went into the net.

“People say it is a fluke but it’s not. Billy has to be in the right place at the right time and he has for most of the season.

“It’s obviously happy days – but we know we have achieved nothing yet.”