United media officer and first team kitman Andy Hall (AH) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) ahead of Carlisle's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at home to Sheffield Wednesday this evening, Hall first giving a latest update on the Brunton Park playing surface in this wintry weather :
JP
At times we have looked out and gone surely not, but it is on, we are here, we are live and we are going ahead?
AH
We have defied the odds time I think it is fair to say. The weather has been atrocious hasn't it and I think that everybody thought that after Saturday's game that we would be calling this one off. But, yet again that GeoFleece thing which is rolled up just off down to my left-hand side has done the trick, it really has. It is a fantastic invention, it really is doing the job for us this season, last season as well, because I can almost put my hand on heart and say that any other season this would have been called off.
JP
It is just incredible that it is, as we speak the snow is actually starting to come down behind you, I bet you don't want to look around do you really, it is not too heavy at the moment but it is certainly coming down. There is some snow on the pitch at the moment and it is almost inverted is the pitch, it is sort of white with green lines tonight?
AH
It is, it is actually blue, we had to go out there to a special stockist to get some blue dye, that was the one request that the referee (David Webb) made, it was his only concern was the fact that he wasn't going to be able to see the lines. So, yet again Dave Mitchell and the groundstaff very quickly came up with a solution for it, and they need a big pat on the back for getting this one on today.
JP
In terms of the referee, he is going to be using a yellow ball for the actual match tonight?
AH
Well, it could be yellow or it could be orange, he was trying them both out, again it all comes down to visibility. So, it really will be down to what he decides just ahead of kick-off as to which colour he goes for.
JP
In terms of the starting line-up for Carlisle United this evening, a person who is conspicuous in his absence is Mike Grella, what is the situation there?
AH
He got in touch with Dolly (Neil Dalton) earlier this afternoon and said that he was feeling a little bit under the weather if I can use that pun today. So, if you are not 100% fit I don't think Greg (Abbott) likes to risk the players at all, so he has been left out for this one because of that.
JP
He was under the weather with one eye on the weather?
AH
Probably, like the rest of us yeah.
JP
I will be in trouble for saying that if he is listening right now. In terms of the rest of the squad though, a return to the centre of the defence for Lubomir Michalik, no real surprise there, Ashley Eastham had a tough debut for Carlisle United on loan from Blackpool, but certainly grew in the match as Greg was at pains to point out at the weekend, but no surprise to see Lubo come back in?
AH
No, I think that a man of his stature against the likes of (Clinton) Morrison and (Neil) Mellor, you would expect Lubo to be in there, with the way James Chester is playing as well. So, I think that Ashley has been unlucky, because I think that you said it as well on Saturday, the fact that the lad had started a bit shakily but he really did grow into it. So, there is more to come from him, but yeah, he has been unlucky.
JP
No Miguel Comminges either, not included in the squad, anything in that?
AH
No, again it is just the fact that it has been a long, long lay-off for Miguel, he has come back into first team football and I think the pace of it will have taken him by surprise. But, again, he is another good signing and he is one that Greg will be able to ease him back into it.
JP
And certainly the diamond came to the rescue to an extent at the weekend against Tamworth in switching to that and bringing Paul Thirlwell back in, Carlisle United really did sort of change their stars in the match when it looked like they might be fading out against Tamworth in the FA Cup. Thirlwell is in there again, it looks like the diamond but with (Francois) Zoko and (Ben) Marshall it could also be a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, which is it?
AH
We have said it before haven't we, with the way Ben Marshall goes he will go left and right, and this diamond which you are right, it is, gives him the licence to do that. So, it will be 4-3-3, 4-5-1, it will change to 4-4-2 if it needs to because we have got the players out there to do it. So, interesting to see but it is that diamond with Paul Thirlwell pulling the strings, he is one of those players, you don't realise how much you miss him until he has gone and we saw that on Saturday.
JP
Marcus Tudgay not with this side Sheffield Wednesday any more, he has gone, that is a great bit of news for Carlisle United, on loan initially to (Nottingham) Forest I think it is and then expected to go there permanently in January. However, a very big unit in Neil Mellor upfront for them on loan from Preston and Clinton Morrison as well, a striker who needs no introduction?
AH
Well, look at them, I think they have lost 2 in 14, they have won six on the bounce so they are doing something right aren't they Alan Irvine and Billy Barr, they have certainly got them ticking over. So, we have got to watch them but it is going to be pretty much the same as it was down at their place, we matched them for a long time, it was nip and tuck and then once we got in front it was fairly comfortable. So, we know that if we do that again who knows?
JP
Thanks for sparing the time on this evening where I am sure you are pretty busy?
AH
Always, yeah, and I don't want to look at the snow because that is the one thing that can derail all this.
JP
It has stopped again I think, I am looking at the lights at the back of the Story Homes Stand, that is where you look when you want to see the weather and I think we are in business again.
AH
Good.