United media officer and first team kitman Andy Hall (AH) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) ahead of Carlisle's League One match at home to Hartlepool, Hall first talking about United's see-saw 4-3 defeat away to Brighton on Saturday :
JP
I suppose it was heartache for everyone on the way home after Saturday, those listening could just tell by the tone of my voice after that fourth goal how gutted I was, and of course for fans travelling back it must have been doubly bad and yourselves included?
AH
Unbelievable wasn't it? You score a goal in time added on, I think ours was the 91st and a bit minute or whatever it was, you put that in the back of the net and you think that we have got something here. Probably on the balance of play Brighton had a lot of possession but we did well, we played well, and we created our own chances. So, when they go up the other end and somebody (Liam Bridcutt) who has never even kicked a ball in the opposition half before pulls out a Ronaldinho-type finish, you are thinking to yourself - what is that all about? But, that is Brighton, and credit to them, that is why they are top of the table.
JP
Liam Bridcutt, I mentioned to Glenn Murray who I had the pleasure of chatting with after the game, that he had never passed the ball forward in the whole match, where did that come from? He quite rightly said that it was his first ever goal in the Football League, and on his weak foot, however, I know that it is easy to criticise players who go sideways, but he does do it to good effect, he is a super player?
AH
They are a good team and we said that before the game on Saturday, it is going to be the best team that we saw. That probably bore out while we watched the game because they probably deserve to be, well not probably, they definitely deserve to be where they are because of the style of football they play.
JP
The way they played on Saturday inspite of their defending I said, controversially perhaps, that they might just be the best team I have ever seen in League One?
AH
Possibly, but I can remember some of the Leeds games that we played, it was breathtaking to watch (Jonny) Howson and all the lads who were around and about him and the way that they played, and they had so much strength in depth on the bench. So, I would probably disagree there and say Leeds have been a pleasure to watch.
JP
Well, of course you saw those with Derek Lacey before my time covering Carlisle United, I think I caught a couple of the Leeds games and I wasn't always that impressed with them but you could see their stars. They reminded me a bit Leeds more of Huddersfield in the way that they bought in a lot of big names whereas what I like about Brighton is that they are not especially big names, they are just players who are good and who have been made there and made as a good as they are. Anyway, enough about blooming Brighton, they can jog on out of League One and up into the Championship where they belong, Carlisle United at home to Hartlepool, a sticky patch at home, one win in eight, are you hoping, has it been the talk to try to get that sort of level of performance perhaps without a couple of the mistakes into tonight's game here in front of your home crowd?
AH
There is, even though we have had Charlton and Brighton and they were two magnificent performances, still fresh in the mind is the fact that even though we worked really hard, there was plenty of effort and determination against Sheffield Wednesday, it didn't happen. That was because Sheffield Wednesday came here to do a job and if you look back over the last few weeks at the way teams have lined up here at Brunton Park, they are not so much frightened of us but they are aware of what we can do. They are coming here to do a job and we have got to find a way of breaking that down.
JP
I noticed on your twitter, cufckit for those who follow Andy on twitter, you talked about Evan Horwood arriving here like he had never been gone, great to see him back, he was always a smiling lad?
AH
He was, and he made a mistake as he always did, as soon as he got here he tried to use the old code on the old code machine to get through into the main corridor, and he was left stranded because obviously we have changed it as soon as he left, you can't trust him, Mr Horwood.
JP
And knowing Evan, and those who do know him will know just what I mean, he probably just continued to type it in about ten times and kept pulling at the door and looking dumbfounded by it all?
AH
That was it, and he eventually shouted down to Sally to ask what the number was to get through here now.
JP
Don't repeat it, what about Paul Murray as well? A player who will know about Carlisle United, Mick Wadsworth as well knows all about the club, their manager, you would expect that they will not arrive here at Brunton Park and be short of ideas for what Carlisle United will try to do. They will certainly plan for us?
AH
We have watched them a couple of times recently and we have expected sort of a 4-3-3 and they went 4-4-2 on Saturday for the 3-0 win (at home to Brentford). Andy Monkhouse was winning absolutely everything for them so they can either play it on the ground and pass it around or they can get it forward and win it that way. So, a good team again, and similar to us they have had some frustrating results and then picked up and then frustrating results, so it will be interesting to see how it goes.
JP
As well, I noticed that just a little bit down on last time around are the Wembley sales just at this stage, you will be hoping that a few decent performances in the coming games can help you boost that, because everything that you do and Brentford does boosts financially what Carlisle United make out of it, which is arguably the most important thing to the club, perhaps not the fans of course.
AH
Absolutely, we do want to go there and win the game, let's make no mistake about that, but you are right, it is a little bit of a financial boost once we get there. We were around or about 8,750 I think it is at close of play today, which is probably if we are being honest where we expected it to be. There are so many factors to be taken into consideration, we were there last year so the gloss has gone, no disrespect to Brentford but it isn't Southampton so there is no gloss there. The financial situation hasn't eased, there are people looking over their shoulder, not just at the next bill that is coming through the door but the fact that they may not have a job and things like that. So, we are battling against all of that but we are still hoping that the team, the lads, the club, can whip up enough of a interest to get a decent, sizeable Carlisle United crowd down there.
JP
And you would go a long way to doing that and continuing the interest to win against Hartlepool on a cold winter's evening, or early spring evening, whatever we are in at the moment?
AH
I don't think it is spring, you look out there, the wind is blowing, the rain is horizontal and it is freezing cold, yes, welcome to Brunton Park.
JP
Welcome to Cumbria, unfortunately coming from Hartlepool they know all about this sort of weather, it is not one of these southern softy bunches coming up?
AH
No, they are a good team, looking forward to this one, have been for a long time, we went to their place and did them 4-0, more of the same please.