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"It's the FA Cup and it's a bit of a break from the league drudgery. We are not having a great time of it at the moment and can't seem to find a win but the pressure is off us a bit tomorrow. We are not expected to get anything at Carlisle and that means we have nothing to lose.
"It is a big test, without doubt, but it's a chance for us to get out there and play our game against a good side. Full credit to Carlisle because they have had a fantastic start to the season. In John Ward, they have a manager who knows the game and is well-schooled - he'll have prepared for us properly.
"Our paths have crossed a fair few times over the years and he has done a good job wherever he has been. I remember back when we got promotion through the play-offs in 1998, he took Bristol City up automatically and I don't think he got the recognition he deserved for that - he did a fantastic job there. So he'll be up for this game, but so are we.
"It's always great to be involved in the FA Cup and we want to stay in it past Round One this year. We went through a spell of creating chances with no end product and brought Martin Butler in. Now we have someone to get on the end of those chances, they have dried up and we have given Martin little, if anything, to work with.
"I gave Nathan Jarman a go in midweek because he deserved a chance and he did okay. Northy (Danny North), too, is getting back to what we know in training and that's good. No-one can say we aren't trying to put things right but when you plan for a game, like the other night, and then concede inside 25 seconds then you have to ditch all that preparation. That is inexcusable and can't happen again.
"We are limited to who we have at the back and are wary that a couple of the lads are close to a ban. I have been looking into getting cover in but it's hard when you're in the position we are in the league. Like I say, though, we can forget the league for the next two games and hopefully give the fans something to cheer. I felt for the ones who travelled to MK Dons because they pay their hard-earned money and deserve better.
" People can shout what they want at me, they are entitled to voice an opinion. They moan at (Sir) Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger so who am I to complain about being moaned at. To be perfectly honest with you though the only pressure I feel is the pressure that I put on myself because I have got a fantastic record at this club. At the moment it is not very good but I have had indifferent spells before.
" So, look I'm not stupid either, I knew it was one point in eighteen without you needing to tell me. There might be outside influences but that doesn't really get to me, it's how I feel myself - that is where I get the pressure from. Because I want to be winning games and we are losing games. "
In team news for the Mariners, centre-half Shaleum Logan had returned to Manchester City yesterday following the completion of a one-month loan spell at Blundell Park. Logan had little time to unpack his bags though as he has gone straight back to the Humberside area late this afternoon for a temporary spell, the 19-year old this time joining Nigel Adkins's Scunthorpe United for a month.
Town central defender Nick Fenton returns from suspension for the game against Carlisle tomorrow while midfielder Paul Bolland may come back into the Mariners squad after a return to training yesterday following a recent ankle injury. One player seemingly definitely sidelined though is striker Isiah Rankin who is suffering from a back strain.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Anthony Taylor from Wythenshawe in Greater Manchester, and he will be assisted down the lines by Paul Curry from Ashington in Northumberland and Kevin Mattocks from Chorley in Lancashire. Meanwhile the fourth official will be Billy Khatib from Sunderland.