Hughes targets last 16
15 Feb 2007 - 08:33:29
Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes has backed his side to make it through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, despite a 3-2 defeat at B Leverkusen.
A late Shabani Nonda strike means Rovers only have a one-goal deficit to turn around at Ewood Park in the second leg of their first knockout round tie and Hughes is upbeat about that prospect.
He commented: "It was a very important goal from Nonda and very welcome. At 3-1 it would have been a very difficult situation for us.
"I have to compliment my players for their performance. While we created some good opportunities in the first half, we lacked a physical presence as the game progressed.
"A lot of players have had long-term injuries and some have not had a lot of football. Conditions were difficult as well and that did not help us.
"We were not able to affect the game and dictate the pace of it as we would have wanted.
"In this situation we would have liked to have closed the opposition down. That proved difficult for us, but we made the best of it and we will give a better performance next week."
