United manager Graham Kavanagh (GK) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 4-1 League One win at home to Tranmere, Kavanagh saying it was a really good team performance from the Blues:
JP
You must be absolutely delighted with today?
GK
Yeah, very ,very pleased, it was a really, really good team performance and one which I think everybody contributed in a very positive way. So, all round I would have taken I think any sort of a victory but the manner in which we won was really pleasing.
JP
In particular the day started with some great news, the fact that you have managed to sign, I mean I think most people were hoping for 18 months maybe out of Courtney Meppen-Walter, but you have got him for a two and a half year deal, it is wonderful news?
GK
Yeah, it is great news, it is a really good boost, I think I have said before that John Nixon and Andrew Jenkins have really pushed the boat out for me and they have tried to help me. I think he is going to be a really good acquisition, I think everybody was probably getting a little bit carried away last week and obviously it was a great performance.
But, I saw one or two parts of his game today that I think need improving, I think he knows that and we said it to him after the game. But, all round I think he has steadily grown, as are the team, the confidence levels are getting a lot greater and a lot higher and hopefully onwards and upwards.
JP
Bear in mind as the fans already pointed out to us, this is a team who put five past Coventry just a couple of weeks ago, how happy are you with the way that you not only managed to get ahead early but also keep them in their place and establish a huge lead in the end?
GK
Yeah, we are very pleased, I mean I think when you start the way we did, especially in the conditions, we were against the wind, really difficult gust that we played into and we had to compete with. I said to them before the game that we need to win our battles across the pitch and we need to make sure in the middle of the park we are solid. It is a fantastic opening goal which I didn’t see to be honest, everyone has told me about it, I was getting my jacket on, but as I came down the tunnel I heard the cheers.
So, a great way to start the game, it gives you great belief, the confidence levels get that little bit greater and higher and players can start to enjoy the game. That is what we did, I thought we created a lot of chances in the first-half and we really grew into the game. Albeit second-half when we were playing with the wind I thought we played some great football also.
JP
You saw Tom Lawrence’s second goal, not a bad one for his second ever professional goal following his first?
GK
Fabulous yeah, I mean I actually trained one of the days this week and I try to wind the lads up in training but they are all too quick for me and I can’t keep up. But, he actually cut inside me and took a shot with his right foot and smashed one into the bottom corner. That was the message to him this week, when he plays off the left he can go inside or outside, he has quick feet, he has a very good eye for goal.
His confidence levels are obviously now quite high which is fantastic and I thought he took his second goal particularly well. I think they were showing a bit of fear really because of the way he was controlling the ball. But, just really pleased all round, a lot of the signings that we have brought in have stepped up and managed to do particularly well.
I thought Prince Buaben was outstanding today, his energy levels and his ability to take the game to the opposition and dominate the middle of that pitch was great. But, everybody is putting in a real honest hardworking performance with real quality. I said to the boys today that we need to go back to back after such a good performance last week, especially at home, it starts the Christmas period really well.
JP
It was key as well wasn’t it, there have been a number of missed opportunities over the last couple of years from Carlisle when you get a bit of momentum, a chance to show the home fans at Brunton Park some of what they have been missing and you really took it today, that must make it even more satisfying?
GK
It does, the only negative was that there weren’t too many people to see it. It was obviously before Christmas when people are doing some shopping and doing whatever they are doing, but I just hope they start buying into it quickly. The fans who were here I think were absolutely magnificent again, they have shown a real patience with the team.
I think it always helps when you score early as we did today, but they have shown a real patience and they understand we are trying to change the philosophy a little bit and we are trying to change the mindset and it is a little bit more of a patient build up.
Sometimes it is a bit more patient out of possession as well waiting for that pass that goes astray for us to really pounce and be aggressive in our approach to defending. But, it is working at the minute and players are really getting to understand. I think the new players who have come in have adapted really well and there is just a really good feeling in and amongst the dressing room.
JP
Obviously, it is always important to beat those teams below you, but they could have actually drawn level Tranmere, now there is a six point gap and you have smashed them so you got exactly what you wanted out of the game. What do you need to do now ahead of this busy Christmas period that is coming up?
GK
Well, I think we all know how important the Christmas period is. I have set the boys a target over that period and obviously three points was of the highest we required today. We knew that having had the result that Tranmere had last week their confidence levels would be affected. That being said they have beaten Coventry five on the road, they have players in their team, Jason Koumas, Ryan Lowe, James Wallace albeit I think it was pleasing today when he came out of the team because I fancy him, I think he is a good lad, he is a good player rather.
That was pleasing before the game but I was very much concerned that I didn’t want the lads to think it was going to be any easier of a game, but once you start in the manner we did it settles everybody down and it was just really, really pleasing to get the three points today and also in the manner we did.
JP
Are you happy as well to see a number of your loan signings, one we have touched on with his goals but Josh Morris as well coming on and getting a bit of action today and Craig Roddan getting his professional debut?
GK
Yeah, it is fantastic, I think when you have come from the clubs that they have come from sometimes it can be difficult to adapt. The facilities aren’t what they are used to, the style and the manner in which we play, the league, there is a lot they have to deal with. But, if they are going to be professional players they have to step up as quickly as they can and to be fair to them all credit that their attitudes have been exemplary.
I have had to juggle the squad in terms of who I was going to play and who I wasn’t going to play but I am mindful of the fact of also the players we have and the ones who have been here who have done a very good job and consistently performed for me. They are always going to get their chance as long as I am getting the level of performance I know that they can. I think some of them have also stepped up a level which competition for places will always give you, so it is looking good at the minute, but we are not getting carried away.
JP
Speaking of that, are you having to do something a little bit new to you as a manager which is keep their feet on the ground a little bit after the week that they have had?
GK
No, not really, I think they are a pretty balanced group, I think they are on their Christmas party tonight and I told them yesterday that I would let them go if they had lost but I wouldn’t be happy about it. So, I think every manager every Christmas always wants their players to have that little bit of doubt in their head, I think when you do go away as a player having had a good performance it just makes that whole weekend a little bit better.
I think you want to get drunk as quickly as you can on the Christmas party if you have lost because it is not a nice feeling. So, they can go away, they can enjoy their night and we will be good to go again next week. We will have a difficult week for them in terms of energy and exertion that I will expect, but we will be ready for Saturday and I am looking forward to it.
JP
Might you treat yourself to a drink or two tonight?
GK
Probably.
JP
And just looking ahead to that next one, away from home at Walsall, a couple of big games at home after that, very big home games after Christmas, I am sure you would like to try to bring the fans back to Brunton Park for that period on the back of at least a good performance if not another win?
GK
Yeah, definitely, I mean I am not sure what more we can do right at this minute other than play in the manner we are and obviously create the chances we are. I don’t want to be disrespectful today but we did actually create a hell of a lot of chances and we could have been out of sight. I did think they were going to be better on the counter because we were so keen to get our name on the scoring charts that we actually neglected sometimes a lot of the defensive duty and left it to the back four and Paul Thirlwell and Ben Amos.
That being said, every time we did go forward we looked a real goal threat, so really pleased but the players must very much keep their feet on the ground. We go into a Christmas period of Preston which is a derby, which all the players will be up for and I am sure we will have a big crowd for that. Peterborough at home then who now look like they are getting their form back.
But, I am sure clubs in our league around the country will start to take notice of the run we have been on and if the belief is as high as it is at the moment and the confidence levels remain where they are then we will give most teams a game with the way we play and the ability we have. I am going to mention David Amoo here because I think he took such stick, which I thought was very, very unfair if I am being honest because he has been our best player probably this part of the season.
I understand the fans want to see him being the best player every week if you like, it is not always possible. The kid had a difficult time, we had to put our arm around and we had to try to build him back up and to be fair to him he is now playing exactly where he was probably a month and a half to two months ago, and that is all credit to him.
JP
And just a final one, did Tom injure himself in the celebration there or did he just come off because that was the plan anyway?
GK
Well, I ended up running the length of the pitch, I don’t know why, emotion just took over and because it was such a good goal I wanted to go and celebrate. I got to him and he was screaming ‘cramp, cramp, cramp’. So, he had both legs bent, he was like a crab on the ground waving his arms and legs, so it was actually quite amusing when I got to him, so I told him I had to take him off.
But, to be fair to him he played particularly well, I still think he needs to understand the defensive side of our game a little bit more so we will keep working on that. But, when he does what he does with the ball and can float about left or right and he is a real goal threat then he has been a real asset.