Dragons’ team spirit is praised by Hughes

NEW Wrexham boss Bryan Hughes says the team spirit and enthusiasm around the club reminds him of times during his playing career where he enjoyed promotion.

Hughes has been in charge at The Racecourse for just one a week after taking over in the hot seat from Graham Barrow.

His first game brought a 1-0 win at home over Dagenham & Redbridge, the win – coupled with results elsewhere – seeing Wrexham move up to third and sit two points shy of leaders Leyton Orient, who have since been usurped at the summit by Solihull Moors following their midweek win.

Attention now turns to today’s trip to Havant & Waterlooville (3pm), a side who sit in 18th place, just one point outside the bottom four.

“We are up there, the league table doesn’t lie,” said Hughes.

“We have got a really good chance, and like I said before it is not about looking at other teams and what they are doing, it is about what we are doing week in week out.

“Whether that is a Saturday or a Tuesday night at Boreham Wood, we have got to go and apply ourselves right to get the right result and if we don’t then we go again in the next one.

“It is about keeping building momentum. So far we are in a good vein of form, two wins and two clean sheets, we will got to Havant positive and hopefully get the right result on Saturday.

“We’ve got a really good team spirit, that dressing room is really, really strong.

“I’ve seen dressing rooms like before that have gone on and got promotion.

“I can feel the same feeling in the dressing room when I walk in as some of the teams that I played for that went on and got promotion.”

Last Saturday’s win over a resurgent Daggers side was ensured thanks to a 74th-minute winner from Stuart Beavon.

Hughes had only two training sessions with his charges ahead of the visit of the Daggers, but will have enjoyed a full week’s preparation ahead of the trip to Hampshire.

And he feels the players are already buying into what he is trying to implement.

Asked how he felt his first week had gone since taking the reins, Hughes added: “Great, it always helps when you get a win, but it has been great, the lads have been really positive.

“We’ve got a really good team spirit down there, they are buying into the things that I want from the team.

“I want a high work ethic, I want them to enjoy playing football and play with a freedom and they are bringing that into training.

“Defensively we have been very strong and that is why we are in a healthy position in the league.”