United media officer Andy Hall (AH) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this evening ahead of Carlisle's League One match away to Bury, Hall first talking about the rearrangement of this fixture tonight from two weeks ago:
JP
I don't think anyone would ordinarily have tried to put a game like this on a night when England were playing away from home in a qualifier, but I guess you just have to run with the punches really don't you when you have games called off as Carlisle and Bury did?
AH
I think it was great for both clubs that we could shoehorn this one in so soon after the call-off, because that one took us all by surprise. There was no real warning of the level of rain that was going to come down in Bury two weeks ago, but it did, it happened, you can't do anything about it. But, like I say, to get it in this side of Christmas before that condensed run of games comes anyway, you hope that you are still involved in the FA Cup and everything that goes with that. So, yeah, it is good to get it in and get it over with.
JP
Certainly is, I think it is kind of crucial that United had game a tonight isn't it to get straight back to things after the surprise that was Notts County at home at the weekend?
AH
It is a horrible defeat isn't it, you never want to be on the end of that, whether you are a fan, a player or anybody connected with the football club. You always get asked why does that happen? How can a team that has played so well at somewhere like Walsall where we have fought, battled, scrapped, all the things, all those ugly words that you talk about, earned the right to win the game. Then on Saturday we didn't turn up and it is the disappointment, it is that knock to the confidence, that knock to the belief that we are going in the right direction. You have to put it right, the only way to do that is to get back on the horse and do it properly.
JP
Danny Cadamarteri not available, a slight niggle he has got so he is not in tonight, a bit of a blow?
AH
Aye, the boss (Greg Abbott) will have more news for you on that one, but I am sort of half stepping on his toes by saying I don't think it is a bad one. It is more a situation with Danny where he has said that something might not be quite right, and he is the kind of player, you have seen how well he has been playing, he has been absolutely magnificent for Carlisle United. So, the boss doesn't wan't to risk him I don't think. So, I think he will confirm that later on for you when he talks to you.
JP
Just been going through some of the stats ahead of tonight's game here, and we are what, just over ten minutes away at Gigg Lane, they have not won at all this season, they have only got four points, they are rock bottom, United have won their last seven against them and Bury haven't beaten United for ten matches going into this one this evening. Everything says United win, but does that not just fill you with dread? It does me.
AH
I hate you for everything you have just said, it is horrible, I mean this isn't going to be pretty, you would expect, Bury beat Rochdale last week, I know it was by penalties but they did it by being brutal if that is the right word to use. Long balls, high balls, chase everything, 90 minutes of hard work, get it to penalties and win the game. It won't be much different tonight, Kevin Blackwell has come in here, a very, very good coach by the way, he has come in here to do a job, to get Bury turned round and to get them playing football again.
He won't mind how that happens, he will know that the hard work has to come first, they will have to battle for everything, once they have done that they will then start to play their football. But, right now in the situation they are in, it is four points, five points, whatever it is, that needs to start changing and he will do that any way he can.
JP
Steven Schumacher of course a link between the two sides in there, had a four game loan spell with Carlisle of course when he was with Everton, another link of course is the man alongside us in commentary this evening, Chris Billy, great to have him here isn't it?
AH
Oh, it is brilliant, some wonderful football from Ceebs and some decent goals every now and then along the way. It is great to see him, we have all talked about last Sunday and Peter Murphy's testimonial and the good feeling that that brought to the club. It is just seeing these lads again because they bring back so many memories with them, so many good times when Ceebs was with us. I know there was a battle as well but he brought a lot of good times to Carlisle United with the lads around him. You never forget that and that is why it is nice to see and hear them on the radio again.
JP
And of course if Carlisle United win this evening it won't be down to you guys, it won't be down to Greg Abbott, it will be down to Ceebs?
AH
We will need him there every week if that is the case.