Source: Team_Talk
Hughes won't change his principles
The rock-bottom Bairns face a huge test of character at Kilmarnock on Saturday, a match that could have a huge bearing on the relegation battle.[LNB]A victory for the visitors would move them above the Rugby Park outfit on goal difference, while a home win would ease the heat on manager Jim Jefferies and move his side six points clear of their opponents.[LNB]Hughes' charges have a Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to against Dunfermline later this month, but their league form has been riddled with inconsistency, featuring too many draws.[LNB]Killie, meanwhile, have not won in their last 12 league games or triumphed at home in the SPL since November. After a fine start to the campaign, their slide down the table has been alarming.[LNB]With much at stake, a tense afternoon could unfold, but Hughes hope his side rise above the situation to play their neat passing game and find a cutting edge.[LNB]He said: "From now until the end of the season, we know the significance of the games.[LNB]"There is no point hiding from it; you need to embrace it, handle the pressure and use your mental strength and all your experience to go and enjoy it.[LNB]"You have to go out there and play your football - that's what I'm trying to get through to the players.[LNB]"If other teams think it's about battling, so be it, but my style is to go out there and play your football.[LNB]"There is no point getting caught up in it, you end up just getting yourself sent off.[LNB]"If we're at it, with our passing, with a purpose and a cutting edge, we know it's brought success. That's got to be our mind set."[LNB]Hughes expects a tight match on Saturday, but feels his team - coming off of back-to-back defeats against the Old Firm - are capable of stringing a run of results together to ensure their survival.[LNB]He added: "It's going to be a close game.[LNB]"Celtic and Rangers are out at the top, there are one or two other clubs ahead of each other.[LNB]"But on their day in the SPL, everybody is capable of beating each other.[LNB]"That's why I think, from now on in, we're capable of winning seven games.[LNB]"If that's the case, we stay in the SPL. If it's not the case, we've only got ourselves to blame.[LNB]"It's all in front of us and we know what we have to do. Let's embrace it - it's total positive stuff from me."[LNB]Hughes admits, however, his defence must tighten up for the challenges ahead.[LNB]Despite matching Celtic early on at Parkhead on Wednesday night, they eventually succumbed to a 4-0 loss.[LNB]The former defender said: "It was disappointing to lose the four goals, for the goal difference aspect too, but I felt in the first half we contained them and played some good stuff.[LNB]"There has to be a steely determination that we're not going to be soft in the goals that we lose, as I felt one or two were soft the other night.[LNB]"I've got great respect for what Jim (Jefferies) has done in football and what he did for me at Falkirk when I was a player, but we know the significance of the game."[LNB][LNB]
