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PN
I believe the team travelled up to Cumbria earlier on today?
DL
Yeah, we travelled this morning, had a light session this afternoon and we are just relaxing now in the hotel.
PN
How ready are your team for tomorrow's game now?
DL
Yeah, ready for it, very much so. We have obviously watched a DVD and talked about Carlisle and worked on stuff where we think we may be able to win the game tomorrow. We know it is going to be a difficult game, obviously Carlisle are going very well at the moment in League One. We know it is tough, we know we will have to be on top form and we have got to play to our maximum ability to win tomorrow's game.
PN
You say you have watched a DVD, have you had any scouts watching Carlisle, any reports from other managers?
DL
We have had a little bit of help from Martyn O'Connor at Walsall, obviously they lost to Walsall last week, I know Martyn quite well and he has sent me a DVD down. Micky Adams was one of my coaches at Nottingham Forest years ago when he was there, he has done me a bit of homework on Carlisle. So, we have done as much as we can do, I don't like to fill the lads' heads with too much information. But, hopefully we have identified a few areas where we might have a chance of winning the game.
PN
Any players in particular you have picked out who will need special attention in the Carlisle side tomorrow?
DL
The strikers, the two strikers, obviously you lost the game against Walsall but I thought the two strikers looked very dangerous. The midfielders, I thought they passed the ball particularly well across the midfield. We like to pass the ball, we like to play football, but on paper usually nine times out of ten we would probably lose the game. But, it is the FA Cup and I am obviously classing it as a one-off game so in these one-off games you have always got a chance of winning the game.
PN
With regard to your own side, how much league experience is there in there at the moment?
DL
There is a lot, there is a lot, we have got senior lads that have played a few hundred games in the league. We have got 20-year olds who have played 50 to 100 games in the league and we have got quite a few lads that have been at Academies and have been first year professionals or scholars who didn't quite make it. So, there is a bit of experience, we have got lads who have been to grounds like Carlisle and places that and have played in front of a few thousand, so that shouldn't daunt them really.
PN
How much confidence will be there in the side after that win in the first round against Crewe?
DL
I think a lot, our performances, even though they have been a bit up and down in the league results-wise I think the performances have been really good. Obviously, we have beaten a good Grimsby side and beaten a league side in Crewe in the last round. So, if you can't take confidence from that then you shouldn't really be playing the game.
PN
And as a former player yourself you will know all about these kinds of games and the potential banana skin that Carlisle could be facing against your team tomorrow?
DL
Definitely, definitely, and it is our job to have a quick start in the game and make it difficult for Carlisle at home. Obviously, you talk about turning the crowd against them, I don't know what the crowd is like in terms of them being patient. But, on paper we really shouldn't win the game, so all the pressure is on Carlisle and we are just going to go there and enjoy the day in terms of working hard and passing the football and hopefully win the game.
PN
Financially what would it be worth to Tamworth to win tomorrow's game and to get through this tie?
DL
I don't know the actual pennies in how much it would be worth, but we all know what it brings. It brings us into the third round and it brings us into the potential of picking up one of the big boys, the Premier League boys, in the next round, and it brings prestige to the club and it brings exposure to the players. We have got a few young lads who had already this season, I have said in a few interviews, that are attracting league clubs. So, it is all out there for them to go and get.
PN
You are in the caretaker role at the moment, a win tomorrow might just help you get that job full-time?
DL
It might, it might do, I am just going out approaching it week by week. I know if we turn up and we pass the ball and work hard off the ball then we can give anybody a scare on the day.
PN
And just finally, what will you be saying to your players just before they leave the dressing room tomorrow?
DL
Just go and relax and enjoy it, by doing that you have got to work hard, by doing that you have got to pass the ball when you are in possession and be brave. So, that is what we are going to look to do, we are not going to go there and pack five in defence or anything. We are going to go out and play our own way, play our normal shape and go and play attacking football.