Carlisle won't give up on survival, insists Hughes

Mark Hughes has collected 20 points from his 16 games as Carlisle boss

Carlisle United head coach Mark Hughes says his players will keep fighting despite their League Two survival hopes hanging by a thread.

They are four points from safety with two matches to go and will be relegated on Saturday if they lose at Cheltenham Town or Tranmere Rovers beat Crewe Alexandra at home.

The gap remains at four after Callum Whelan salvaged an injury-time equaliser at Accrington Stanley on Monday.

For Hughes, that goal was a sign that the team have not given up in trying to pull off a dramatic survival act.

"I'm pleased with the character they showed," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"That point might be the difference - we don't know - but we've just got to keep going.

"We've got two games left, we've got to get six points."

The draw at Accrington means Carlisle have collected 10 points from a possible 12 - their best run of form for two years.

But it is the run of results all season leading up to that which have left the club in this perilous position.

However, while there is still a chance of avoiding relegation to the National League, Hughes will not throw in the towel.

"It's getting clearer and clearer what we need to do," he said. "Will it be enough? We don't know yet, but we'll give it our best.

"We've got to take credit for our run, it's what's gone on before.

"We can't have any regrets. If we're not good enough to stay up, we'll know in a short time."