North End manager Graham Westley spoke to his club's official website and the Lancashire Evening Post ahead of his side's League One game against Carlisle at Brunton Park this evening, Westley first looking back on Preston's 2-1 victory at Exeter at the weekend :
"On Saturday we beat a side which was in the bottom four and they weren't in the greatest of form, so the level of performance that you need to put in to beat those sides needs to be at a winning level. However we all know that if we are going to come away from Carlisle with all three points it is likely to require more from us. We have to be honest with ourselves, get ready for the game and not get carried away with Saturday's result.
“Overall, I was pleased as much with the performance as I was with the result. I was impressed that after Exeter scored the equaliser, we stepped up and showed where we wanted to go. You always want your strikers’ names on the scoresheet, however they get themselves on there. On Saturday, Iain Hume got on the end of a very good cross from the right from Danny Mayor, and then got in behind behind Exeter’s defence from a good flick on. What I’m looking for is the whole team to get themselves on the scoresheet at some point.
"It was a difficult place to go and win at although they had an important couple of players out, the results Exeter have had this season show that, but none the less Carlisle will be a bigger job for us to do and it will take more of the right characteristics that we showed. It is never an easy place to go to, I have only ever been there twice as a manager and my record currently stands at a win and a defeat. It is a partisan home crowd who try to turn the officials and they try to build a strong support and it is a tough place to go.
"The journey for a lot of clubs causes the big issue but we are fortunate because it is relatively local so from our point of view that isn't going to be an issue. We have got a good opportunity to prepare right and they have had just as long as a journey this weekend as we have had, so that won't be a factor. We are looking forward to the game and it is a good opportunity to test ourselves against arguably a better side but any side on its day can look good or bad.
“I watched Carlisle at Brentford recently and Brentford were great but Carlisle struggled, so you know however good you want to think a side is, on the day you can make it look ordinary. For us winning after winning, winning back to back, is all about getting your feet back on the floor, not getting carried away, thinking about the next job and recognising that it is going to be a tall order up there. They are fighting for a play-off place and they are going to be playing with the passion, huger and desire that you get when there are those kinds of honours in front of you."
“We have got to realise the importance of it from our club’s point of view as well, it is important that we post points, it is important that we keep the winning momentum going, it is important that we stay on the front foot. We mustn’t underestimate the level of anger and aggression that they might show to win the game tonight, we have got to be ready for it and we have got to be prepared to give more.
“Overall the confidence that you get from winning and the memory of the joy and the jubilation and the sense of unity that you got from the terraces, it was great for the fans and the players to join at the end and actually have something to celebrate for a change. When you get that going on you want more of it, so we have spent some time looking at what we did in the game to get us the victory.
“The early weeks here have given me an idea of what needs to be done, and it has been difficult with not getting the right results. But as tough as those weeks have been, this club is everything I knew it would be when I took the job. I know I’ve taken stick and I’ll take that on the chin. I’ve talked in public about some of the things I’ve found here, but what I haven’t talked publicly about was the mentality, the spirit and lack of ambition I inherited.
“If you could have seen the resistance of some players behind the scenes, uniting to bring down the regime, you would have been shocked. That resistance came through in games and performances. I think we have gone past those days so I’m not going to open up old sores too much. There were a lot of people willing to bring me down but it has started to change as the chairman (Peter Ridsdale) supports me.
“I like physically my sides to be strong at this time of year, when you go Tuesday-Saturday you really get tested, the more leg work you have done and the more physical work you have done the better prepared you are for this time. The lads have looked bright and sharp in training, they look ready to go and physically they are a side that as we get the work done over the course of the closed season this year, people will look at Preston North End and Preston North End will be renowned for its physical condition.”