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"I didn't think we did anything well, we can be so much better. The work rate is there - it wasn't for the lack of effort - but we made some poor decisions and our ball retention was poor. All the things I think have improved over the past few months we let ourselves down with. There's so much at stake, but good players learn fast, and they'll take eveything on board and look to improve.
"There was tension in the air, but that comes with the play-offs and what's at stake. We got a deserved goal in the end. He (Bradley Johnson) is the best suited at the moment (at left-back). Darren Kenton has an injury, and he gives us a balance because he is naturally left-footed. It's a team game and it's a squad game and you have to be able to cope with these things.
"I was reading before the game at Elland Road that we were favourites, but they'll be favourites now. We go in with less pressure and we're underdogs. What we need to do is show a reaction and win the game. It's simple. We have to win. Monday will have hurt their pride. I trust the players I have here and we can do better. It's going to be exciting. We have to be fully focused and fully concentrated.
"They have the expectation and pressure of the home fans, which we had the other night. The roles are reversed and we will see how they cope with that. Pressure can make a player's decision making and touch be a little bit out. It is the same with a choice of pass. Our performance on Monday did surprise me, but that first leg is out of the way now.
"We have seen in the last few days that the home teams in these games are feeling under a bit of pressure. That is to be expected. We have relinquished that now. We are going away from home and the shackles are off. The pressure is on Carlisle. The onus will be on the home side and the weight of expectation is on them. We have to take advantage of it.
"We want to be the team that scores that first goal, but you have to prepare for other side of things as well. If they score early and it's 3-1? Anything can still happen. My players have produced some high pressure results on the road. We are more than capable. We got results at Doncaster, Millwall, and Yeovil so these players know how to play on the road. We need someone to get a hold of things. It'll be electric, it'll be exciting, and we're going to go for it.
"It is half-time, but the fortunate thing from our point of view is that there are 90 minutes left and not 45 to get the goal back. We do not need to go gung-ho. We have to play with our heads. It is not a case of flooding people forward, what we need to do is recognise the situations when we should commit men forward. And be brave enough to do it."
In team news for Leeds they have no fresh injuries or suspensions from Monday night, with Bradley Johnson seemingly set to continue to deputise for Alan Sheehan at left-back who sees out the final match of a three-game ban. Jermaine Beckford being the only minor doubt as he continues his comeback from a long-standing ankle injury.
Elsewhere at Elland Road centre-half Matt Heath has become the first summer departure from Leeds this week after agreeing a permanent switch to Colchester United. The 26-year old having spent the final few months of last season on loan at Layer Road.
The referee for tonight's match is Alan Wiley from Burntwood in Staffordshire, and he will be assisted down the lines by Peter Kirkup from Northampton and Shaun Procter-Green from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. Meanwhile the fourth official is Peter Walton from Long Buckby in Northamptonshire.