United manager Graham Kavanagh (GK) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 4-1 League One defeat away to Peterborough, Kavanagh saying the Blues could have done a little bit better than they did at London Road:
JP
Where do you start?
GK
Heavy defeat, one that we could do without. We probably weren’t expecting to pick up too much here today but I thought we would have performed a little bit better than we did. Obviously, decisions have cost us but I think we created part of our own downfall quite honestly.
JP
You were talking with the referee [Dave Phillips] as he came off, do you feel that second goal was the turning point in the game, the penalty was very harsh on you?
GK
It was a ridiculous decision, the linesman is facing the play on the side of the pitch and doesn’t give it. He will tell you that he was going to give it because that is what he told me after he tells him lies, which they all do. But, the referee is facing Reece Brown who has his back to the referee and somehow he decides it is handball. Well, that was the second goal but after that we could have had a big factor in the third, the fourth was unlucky because it takes a deflection and goes in. But, yeah, disappointing, very much disappointing.
JP
Not one where you could have expected to come and win at Peterborough as good a side as they are and look where they are in the table. It seemed like you might have got something, there were opportunities in there?
GK
There was yeah, we knew it was going to be difficult coming to Peterborough because they are a decent side in very good form. They are certain to be in the play-off places, they have got a very good squad, I knew today they would make changes as we tried to do. But, we made them for different reasons, we have got a hell of a lot of injuries to key players and again we pick up another couple today.
So, we are literally down to the kids at the moment and I think finished the game with seven players under the age of 21 I think it was. So, it is difficult, the problem I had today was in the second-half there was just a lack of belief amongst the group, a lack of leaders, and that is difficult to comprehend.
JP
Just talk me through the Gary Madine situation, I mean you will have been aware of that in signing him, had you been hoping that you would be able to have that sorted ahead of this?
GK
We were aware of it but not the extent. We were expecting to have him today, we expected to have him for all the games apart from Crawley and there has been a shift in the reasons and what have you. So, we obviously don’t have him, we were told at the weekend he was free until 9 o’clock and now it is 7 o’clock. So, that is obviously something that is completely out of our hands. So, we have got him for next Saturday and I think there is a conversation we are going to have on Thursday, I don’t know if it is going to make a difference or whatever but that is it.
JP
So, out of Crawley and maybe out of Wolves potentially then?
GK
Could be yeah.
JP
A big game coming up at the weekend, how do you try to get them back up for that?
GK
Well, we have done it so many times this season where we have had poor performances, from the very start of the season right the way through. I don’t know if it is part of the make-up of the players, a lack of leaders, a lack of senior players, I don’t know what it is. But, yeah, we have got to go again, we are in on Wednesday with a lot of tired bodies and tired minds it seems. I have asked them in there, are we going to turn up and fight on Saturday and are we going to scrap because I am not going down without fighting, I don’t care what anyone says.
There are three games to go and I still believe that if we win the two games then we go to Wolves with it all to play for. Obviously, we need to win both games now but we have got the extra game in hand which is the Crawley game and if we can do our job on Saturday people will be looking over their shoulders at that result. So, we have got to believe.
JP
One fan has even suggested registering yourself to get that fight out there, I am sure you probably won’t do that but how do you get that fight you are going to need from them if it was missing today?
GK
Well, I don’t get it out of them, I advise them and encourage them and try to put them in the right frame of mind. They have got to do it when they step over the line, good bad or indifferent. When we have had results I have applauded them, when we haven’t I have at times criticised them, but I have also put my arm round them and taken the blame myself.
I will obviously continue to do that but I think responsibility is a big word and I think it doesn’t matter how old you are, I ask every player before the game are you ready to play, do you want to play and the answer is always yes. So, step up.
JP
In terms of the David Amoo substitution, were you tempted to try him down the middle, he seemed to just stay out on the touchline, was that something you asked or might he have been allowed to drift in? Because, there were two young centre-backs [Jack Baldwin and Ben Nugent] on yellow cards who you just didn’t seem to exploit?
GK
Well, we didn’t get enough ball into Lee Miller to start with and then when we did we didn’t protect it with quality. They were getting down the full-back areas so I went 4-3-3, Paul Thirlwell looks like he is going to be out now for the rest of the season, he has done his Achilles, he did it after six minutes and Liam Noble could be for the rest of the season with a calf problem.
So, I am putting young lads in positions, I asked Dave Symington to occupy their full-back and try to get on the inside of him and get at their centre-backs who were on yellows obviously. We probably didn’t get the ball quickly enough to him in good enough areas because I thought we were so slow and laboured in our possession.
Not because I think we wanted to be, I think the pitch played a key in that but I think also our indecision in our minds as to is it the right pass or not and it lent to us being an extra half a second too long. David then and Sam Byrne to be fair when he came on wasn’t able to front the full-back up enough times. But, there were a number of performances across the pitch that just weren’t acceptable, so we have to readdress it on Wednesday.
JP
Three points adrift now and goal difference makes it close to four, do you think you can keep Carlisle in League One?
GK
I am going to have to aren’t I, with three games to go I told you that I am not going to go down without a fight so the answer is yes.
JP
The fans are obviously very upset tonight, I mean it was a hard one to come and get anything from this one I am sure, what do you say to them to encourage them that you can do it in those final games?
GK
I don’t think it is the fans I have to make believe, I think it is the players. The fans that come and support us as they have done, I am sure they have been magnificent, again today they clapped the players off and I thought that was a credit to them. I know one or two are disappointed and I fully understand that, so if you can come down on Saturday and you want to have a part to play then brilliant. If not then I understand your reasons but we will be fighting, and I know for a fact I certainly will.