North End goalkeeper Steve Simonsen spoke to his club's official website after his side's 1-1 draw and subsequent 3-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy penalty shootout victory over Carlisle at Brunton Park, Simonsen pleased that the Lilywhites found a way to get through the tie:
"It doesn't matter how you get through, but it is always nice to get through. We weren't entirely happy with our performance over the 90 minutes but we found a way to get through, albeit on penalties, so we are in the next round. It is always nice to see the opposition blasting a few over the bar, I always back myself to save at least one in a penalty shootout and that is exactly what I did tonight. The opposition helped by putting a couple over the bar as well and the lads kept their nerve on the whole and we scored three penalties, so you can't ask for more than that.
"I am delighted to just be involved in first team action again, I have had a long summer and it has been frustrating to not pick up a club until very late. But, I am absolutely delighted to be where I am now, to get two games under my belt in the last week or so has been a bonus really. I am absolutely delighted with the way it has gone, I feel as though I am fitting in really well and hopefully it stands me in good stead for the future.
"The manager said he wants good competition for me and Stucky (Thorsten Stuckmann), I have got the utmost respect for Stucky, he is a good goalkeeper. But, I am also a good goalkeeper with good experience, and I am here to keep him on his toes and whoever is out there has got the pressure on them to do well.
"We are modelling ourselves on getting an early start against teams at the moment, to be quick out of the blocks is a good thing in football. You have always got the teams on the back-foot, we did that, we had Carlisle chasing the game for most of the night and when we get our noses in front we always fancy that we are not going to lose the game at the very least. We showed that again tonight and we could have finished it off a little bit at the end to be honest, and we had a few chances in the first-half as well, so we are disappointed that we didn't put the game to bed but we are through to the next round and that is all that matters.
"When you have got two natural wingers like we have got, like Jeff (Monakana) and David (Amoo) they can get at players and push the ball past them and use their pace to get past and create crossing opportunities. They have shown a glimpse again of what they can do tonight and I am sure there is a lot more to come in their games as well. So, hopefully we will see a lot more of that in the coming months.
"Akpo Sodje had a good chance at the end, he was unlucky to be fair, he hit the post but that wasn't to be on the night, it would have been a fitting end because I think we probably deserved to win the game on the 90 minutes, but we get through however we get through and we deserved it I think."
Meanwhile North End left-back David Buchanan commented to his club's official website:
“The fans are one of the reasons why I signed for this massive football club, it is a massive Club and the fans have been different class and they have really got behind the lads. Credit again last night they came out in their numbers and we are all grateful that they keep getting behind us and long may it continue. We found a way to win in the end, the game had to come down to penalties and we didn’t really want that but full credit to all the lads who went up to take the penalties and had the courage to take them.
“We had Simmo (Steve Simonsen) to thank as well for saving a couple but all in all it is good to be in the next round, especially away from home because they had their full first team out. We did look a bit disjointed, we didn’t play the way we know we can but in the end it is all about getting through to the next round and keeping the winning run going. I have been on the end of losing penalty shoot outs in the play-offs and it is heart breaking but to win one and score the winner was a good feeling. We don’t fear anybody in this competition, any opposition that we come up against we feel comfortable we can more than match, so why not win every game, get to Wembley and win a medal.
“Everybody around the place is together, we all want to win and we will go to Bury on Saturday and it is no different, we are looking to get three points. We want to get a win away from home in the league on the board, we are fully aware what they are about, we have done our homework and there is a few players I have played with so I have some information to pass on. By no means is it going to be an easy game, Bury like to get the ball down and pass, but I am sure the manager and the coaching staff have got a winning philosophy to match them.”