Greg Abbott - Radio 5 Live Interview

Last updated : 03 January 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Blues boss Greg Abbott
United boss Greg Abbott spoke to Mark Clemmitt from Radio 5 Live this morning the day after Carlisle had lost 3-1 at Everton in the third round of the FA Cup, Abbott enjoying the day out despite what was in the end a disappointing result :



" Everybody at Everton Football Club were tremendous to us yesterday and Phil (Neville) was really complimentary to the players and to myself as he walked off. That is what the day is probably about for the lower league teams, you go to these big clubs and pit your wits against them hoping that you can give them a game that tests them.

" I think we did that, we put Everton under pressure at times, we competed in all areas of the field and for the people of Everton to come out and say nice things about us, the manager (David Moyes) and people like Phil included….. It just shows that we are on the right lines and we can take a lot of heart from that and hopefully take it into our league performances.

" To be honest when I was talking in the manager's office with Steve Round and Jimmy Lumdsen after the game we thought that Danny (Livesey) just hit the bar, but he said Tim Howard had saved it. Now if he has saved that, I haven't seen it on the television last night but if he saved that then it goes down as probably one of the wonder saves.

" Because he has hit it absolutely plum on and we just think that it has hit the bar and we have had a bit of bad luck. But if that was a save, which obviously it was as I think the television has shown that then it is a great save. That makes it even more damning that we haven't got that goal because we thought it was just Danny missing the target from an easy situation - a volley 12 yards out.

" I think that David Moyes was tied up doing the press afterwards and we had a police escort away from the ground and the police weren't letting us hang on, so he was still busy doing the press. But he pulled me after the game and was complimentary on the way we had done things.

" That is probably one of the downsides that we couldn't have had a bit of a longer chat with him and find out a bit more about how they do things. Because it is a good club, run well with some great people and we wish them all the best. But it was a bit unfortunate that we had to get on the team bus. "



" It was fantastic for the club, the fans were brilliant, I think they have had a good day, they have enjoyed the performance. Probably a little bit disappointed with the result and probably a little bit unfortunate that we didn't drag them back to Brunton Park for another go at it. But on the whole I thought the fans did themselves credit, they turned up in great numbers and enjoyed the day.

" Everybody around the club, the stewards and the people there, made us really welcome and we have had a nice day out. Just a little bit upsetting this morning when you read about how we nearly got there and nearly got a replay but we haven't done it. But a lot of people after it can take heart that they have enjoyed a nice day out with Carlisle.

" It was Sam Ellis at Sheffield United that tipped us off about Vincent Pericard. We knew about him and we knew that he was available but we couldn't really find out much about what the problems were with him. We knew he had had his injury problems and bits and pieces but his injuries have cleared up, he is in great shape and we thought that with his pedigree and the situation at the time for us, we needed that type of player.

" We went to meet him in Manchester, we agreed to sign him on a short-term deal and since then he has been an absolute gentleman on and off the pitch. The fans have taken to him, the players love him, his performances have been excellent for us.

" He has scored five or six goals for us and it has been largely down to him and a few other players that we have managed to drag ourselves into what might be an exciting second half of the season. For that he has played a big part and we are just hopeful that we can persuade him to stay but there is a lot of interest in him at the moment. "