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JP
How are you finding things? You have made that number one jersey your own and you are looking pretty good at the back.
AC
Yeah, we are looking solid at the back, I am really enjoying it playing in the team. Grateful for the manager (Greg Abbott) giving me a chance and I feel I have taken it well and just doing the best I can really.
JP
You have been waiting in the wings for a number of years really for Carlisle, you have been forever linked with United. You have been training with them, you have been biding your time with Workington Reds waiting for this chance here in League One and you are really taking it now. How satisfying has it been after what must have been a lot of hard work for you?
AC
Very satisfying, a dream come true. I was at Workington for five years, five good years, I really enjoyed it there but I just got my head down there and worked as hard as I could putting a performance in every week and I finally got my break.
JP
And one of your biggest fans is just to your right there struggling with the cold, Tommy Cassidy, ever since you came here he was saying that if he gets his chance inbetween the sticks he will keep the place, and you are doing just that. Do you remember those happy days under Tommy at the Reds?
AC
Yeah, I do yeah, the first season I had at Workington was a brilliant season, we went up in the play-offs and ever since then the club has never looked back really. It has gone forwards and forwards and it was a brilliant time there under Tommy and Darren (Edmondson) towards the end of my spell there.
JP
Talk about your time though here at Carlisle United, this season has been a season of I guess, rather than ups and downs it has been downs and then ups. At the moment the team are on a real up and just two defeats in fourteen, it is impressive.
AC
The run we are on at the minute is brilliant you know, the dressing-room is buzzing, we are full of confidence, we think we can go anywhere and win the game. We got a good result here today and just bring on Everton now really.
JP
What was the feeling about today, because 13 days without a game, you can't help lose just a touch of that match sharpness as a team, how satisfied are you with this point?
AC
Very satisfied, this is a difficult place to come, but ever since the manager has changed here they have changed formation, they have gone to a 4-3-3, very, very solid. They are basically just lumping it forward and it made it very awkward for us. They are beating teams here now so it was a real good point for us today.
JP
You have clearly always had a good relationship with Lenny Pidgeley when you were the man helping warming him up, the camaraderie between the two of you. What is he like at the moment now of course you are the number one? Is he giving you the help that you were giving him?
AC
Yeah he is, he has been fantastic, me, Lenny and Tony (Caig) - we are a goalkeepers' union, we stick together whoever is playing, and he has been fantastic with me.
JP
You always tend to see with teams, you see the main goalkeeper and the understudy but you and him very much seem like you are on a level playing field now. If your form does dip, not maybe one mistake, but if your form dips, that he will be there to come in, and do you think that is healthy competition?
AC
Definitely, very healthy, the manager said to Lenny when he joined at the start of the season that I was breathing down his neck and now vice-versa, he is breathing down my neck wanting to come back into the team. So it is healthy competition and it gets the best out of both of us.
JP
Do you think knowing that he is right there behind you, do you think that keeps you right on your toes and right on top of your form?
AC
Definitely yeah, going and training every day and I work as hard as I can, and come into the games and do the best I can. I know that if I slip up a couple of times then I will be out of the team.
JP
Around Carlisle as I am sure you can't fail to have heard, there are those just few calls and murmurs of the play-offs amongst Carlisle fans, do the players believe that is within your capability?
AC
Yeah, yeah, as I say, we don't fear anybody in this league. We feel like we can hold our own against any team, we have got a couple of games in hand now obviously so hopefully we can just keep this run going. Keep the clean sheets coming and I am sure we will do alright.
JP
And a question that we have asked every player we have spoken to just recently, how important do you think it is that the club hangs on to these three players on short-term deals, Adam Clayton, Tom Taiwo and Vincent Pericard?
AC
Well, very important, three quality players, if we can keep them until the end of the season at least it will be a massive boost for the club and help us all the way to the end.
JP
And I am sure you will be fine as a model professional that you are, but have a good New Year and look forward to that game against Everton. What must that be like for you?
AC
I can't wait, everybody can't wait to play, it is a boyhood dream to play against a Premier League team and we are just looking forward to it.
JP
Are you a Match of the Day watcher? Have you looked at Goodison Park and dreamed of playing at grounds like that?
AC
Well I have been to watch Everton twice, I have been to Goodison Park twice, it is a big stadium and a lovely pitch so it is one to look forward to, I definitely can't wait.