Mark Hughes hails Carlisle’s battling qualities after win at Barrow

Carlisle boss Mark Hughes hailed his battling side’s collective effort after they gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a 1-0 win at neighbours Barrow.

Matthew Dennis’ first-half strike ended a 374-minute goal drought for the club as they earned Hughes his first win since taking charge.

It propelled the Cumbrians just two points shy of safety as they snapped their six-game winless run by doing the derby double.

Mark Hughes

Hughes, who punched the air in delight as he celebrated with the travelling fans, beamed: “We’re delighted with the win.

“It was difficult managing the game. We had to defend manfully, every one of us.

“It was a great team effort. It was a really professional performance in that second half.

“Thankfully we’ve scored a goal which has taken the game away from them.

“Everyone’s worked to a good level and everyone’s delighted in that dressing room.

“I’m really proud of them and the last few results gives us something to build on.

“You saw at the end what it meant to everyone connected to the club.

“That’s three clean sheets in a row for us and we need to keep defending like that. Gab [Breeze] was brilliant again for us.

“Fitness has been an issue for us. But we’ve managed to see that game out and I’m delighted.”

Barrow’s 65-year wait for a win against their neighbours went on as they slumped to a third straight loss.

Andy Whing

Boss Andy Whing labelled the game as an “audition” for his players as he looked for a response to the worst performance of his tenure at Crewe last time out.

Wasteful Barrow had their chances and Whing groaned: “I’m gutted, I’m really gutted for the supporters because I know how much these games mean.

“We created a lot of chances and that’s ultimately what’s cost us, not putting them away.

“They’ve scored with their only real half chance of the game really.

“We huffed and puffed. But when the game gets a bit ragged in the last 20 minutes we lacked composure.

“I understand as a fan with these big derby games, our record against them, where they are in the league.

“The overriding disappointment is we lacked that composure and care in front of goal. We had our chances and didn’t take them.

“We shouldn’t have lost the game, but we have. We have to lick our wounds and learn from it.

“Even in the last ten minutes I thought we’d go and win the game. It’s frustrating.

“They were time wasting as much as they could, they were managing the game. If the shoe was on the other foot we’d be doing that same, but it’s frustrating.”

READ MORE: Matthew Dennis boosts Carlisle’s League Two survival hopes with deciding goal in derby