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 Bournemouth, Hall first talking about how United reacted to the hefty defeat against Peterborough when they played Plymouth on Tuesday evening :
JP
The visit of Bournemouth then, what has the build-up been this week, seven days ago it was a bit of a dramatic one and you get the feeling that the manager (Greg Abbott) has been talking about basically rebuilding the confidence back up to this one?
AH
Yeah, I don't think anybody can ever explain where a result like that comes from, it just happens in football every now and then. The important thing is how you react to it and the lads reacted on Tuesday night, it might not have been the silkiest of performances, but there were boxes that need to be ticked for the management team and they were ticked, because it showed a little bit of spirit, character and heart.
It was a slow start to the game but certainly for that middle period of about 50 minutes to an hour it looked like there was only going to be one winner. Unfortunately when you don't get those two goals the other side have got that opportunity to get back and nick one off you, that is what happened, but importantly the boys did respond and that is what we needed to do.
JP
Bournemouth are the kind of gunslingers if you will of the Wild West that is League One, 25 times they have scored first in their 36 games this season, they really do come out of the traps well, is that something that the club have focused on?
AH
Yeah, it is, the start to a game like this is important because we are on our own pitch and we want to get off to a good start to pick everybody up. Because, that has probably been a criticism this season that it has gone slowly for us and we haven't really reacted quickly enough in certain situations. The home form hasn't been what we wanted but the lads haven't done that deliberately, they are working hard at putting it right and Bournemouth are a good team. They are not up where they are by accident, we are not where we are by accident, so we know that if we play well then we will be a match for them.
JP
A couple of young lads getting an extended longer chance with Carlisle United, Ben Mckenna and Steven Swinglehurst, great news for two lads who we hope can have a future in football now?
AH
They have got exactly the right attitude the pair of them, there is the aggression and the determination that goes with them being able to play the game of football. With both of them, they both stay after hours, they both do extra work and they both really wanted to make a go of this. If both of them had failed you would had to have been able to pat them on the back, shake their hand and say you did everything you could lads. But, fortunately for them they have got their contract and hopefully they will kick on and go and do what somebody like Gary Madine did for us.
JP
Yeah, there are so many players out there who you see around talking about the if onlys, you don't feel that Steven Swinglehurst and Ben Mckenna will ever have that situation because they have given everything to try to make it. In terms of this game here today, the last game of course at Brunton Park before Wembley, the last opportunity for people to see their team, so you will be hopeful of a slightly improved gate won't you?
AH
Yeah, absolutely that, we want to see the fans getting behind the lads whatever the situation is, but we are very, very aware that there has been a dip in home gates. We had a meeting with a supporter who represented the messageboard yesterday and I thought that was absolutely fantastic. We were just talking amongst ourselves this morning and if he would like to continue to do that then maybe that is something that we could do with him on a one on one basis.
We had the old feedback group that used to run and we stopped that because that dwindled down to a group of possibly nine to twelve regulars, which became a bit of a quango and we were wary of that, because you can start to get criticism of another kind if it is the same people that you are talking to. But, if those people are willing to come then maybe that is what we should be doing. So, we are looking at, off the back of Dave Atkinson who came down yesterday, brilliant that he did that, positive, probably what we should be doing more so I think we will be.
JP
So, doing what you can to try to help appease the concerns of the fans, whatever it is that is keeping them away currently?
AH
Yeah, I think we need to, we can't sit ourselves in a bubble and just keep saying we need you, if we are going to get to the Championship we need you here. If people need more from us then we should be listening to what that it is.
JP
Acknowleding that it is more than just the fact that there are fans who genuinely can't afford to come at the moment, we understand that, that is the case, but there are other concerns as well with fans which the club are trying to do what they can now to get into basically?
AH
Yeah, like I keep saying, we need to and we do need to, you need to listen to what the grumble is. Sometimes you will sit there and you will know the reason behind the grumble is a good one for the fans. But, you also know that sometimes the reason behind the club being in the situation is a good one. Possibly, probably, definitely, need to be communicating that more.