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" We have to focus on ourselves more than anything but we have to be mindful of the fact that they are on a run of form that can go one or two ways. If they are lacking in confidence then certainly what we don't want to do is to go up there and give them the confidence to play. So providing that we are at it and that we are concentrating on what we are trying to do, then hopefully their run will continue. It is always a difficult place to go and play football though, that is for sure.
" From Wednesday we take a clean sheet and the confidence gained by progressing in another competition. A win is a win as they say, we take some good performances from individuals and other players, for instance Nicky Forster got a full 90 minutes under his belt and he will benefit from that. So all-in-all it was a worthwile exercise, although I am expecting to make changes for the Carlisle trip.
" It is a game of football and you want to win as many football games as you can. So whilst the personnel might change, our mentality mustn't and can't change. We have to remember that in the last two previous league games we have won them both. We have not done that on too many occasions this season, if it all, so it would be nice to put another win on the board. So our approach has got to be very, very positive and I think that you will find that I will pick a positive side on Saturday.
" You don't want to give them confidence by gifting them a goal, not defending properly, not closing them down like we should do or giving them time on the ball. Or not winning tackles and being generally second to the ball. So we have got to get those basics right to put them on the back-foot and see how dented their confidence is. "
" They can go one or two ways though, they can either be affected by what has happened to them recently or come out fighting. There is a caretaker manager (Greg Abbott) that wants the job full-time, I think that he has made no secret of that and if the boys are behind him then they will want to do well for him. So we understand that but I can't really worry about them, I have got enough to worry about.
" We have tried to take the distance excuse away from our players by spending a few pounds and getting them up there on the plane. The simple fact of the matter though is that it is Carlisle United, I would think that there is possibly only Glenn Murray who is looking forward to it. It is a football town, it is a football area, they are fervent supporters, I think that their away support is as a good as anything in the league.
" So it is a tough ask at any stage regardless of the fact that they have got a little bit of turmoil behind the scenes at the moment. I particularly feel sorry for Wardy (John Ward) who lost his job, because he is a good football man and it is never nice when a manager loses his job.
" The games are going to come thick and fast and we're going to need everyone fit and available to us. There's going to be a fair amount of tinkering because we have to do that. We're still in two cup competitions and there are league games as well. We'll have to prioritise a team as we see fit. We'll have to utilise the full squad and I've told the players that.
" Whilst they might not like it, and whilst they might want to play in every game, I don't think that will be possible for some of them because of match fitness, lack of match preparation and also lack of form occasionally. I'll pick a team to win a game of football on any given occasion. I've had a little bit of stick but we have been playing without centre forwards. Now, all of a sudden, I have got an abundance of riches and that's good. All the good teams have got good centre forwards challenging for places."