"It was big night for everyone at the club for obvious reasons. We needed to make a statement and I think we did that with the level of our performance," said Hughes.
"It was important we came out and showed people there are things happening here and we have ability.
"When in the future we are able to produce it on a regular basis we will be a very difficult side to overcome. It is the beginning of long journey.
"There was a real sense that we were trying to make something special happen and we almost achieved that goal.
"But unfortunately we did not get that break when we needed it."