United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Friday's press conference for the local media, Abbott hoping his team bounce back against MK Dons from their disappointing 2-0 Carling Cup defeat at Aldershot Town on Tuesday night :
GA
Want is not the right word, I think demand is the right word. I think to be fair I know my group and we know we are capable of that type of performance, it happens now and again. But, what I do know is that generally, 99% of the time, we have always responded well. They are a very honest group and they hold their hands up when they have underperformed, and we know we have underperformed and it probably tells us that we can't make four or five changes in one belt. A few of the changes were forced, well all the changes were forced really and it has probably not got the strength and the depth to make four or five changes in one hit, which was the game. Games generally give you answers, and that gave us a lot of answers on Tuesday night.
JP
Do you think as well, especially having just got him in there, and it seemed to make your team click, do you think you a little bit missed Lee Miller on Tuesday?
GA
Yeah, we might have, I think we missed them all, I don't think we can make big player changes to the tune of four or five in one game and be able to do deal with that. We haven't got that depth, we are not a Huddersfield or a Sheffield Wednesday with the size of the squads that they have got, or Charlton, 18 signings I think Charlton have made. We are what we are and we were forced into a bit of a corner with the players unavailable for whatever reason and it has probably shown us that we can't carry too many changes like that in one fell swoop. But, that has gone now and we have got players back tomorrow and we hope to go a bit better tomorrow in the game.
JP
How important will it be then to your tactics and formation to have that big man upfront, that big focal point for your attack?
GA
I haven't picked the team yet.
JP
To have him available?
GA
It is nice to have him available.
JP
I will leave it there then, what about Frank SImek? I have just seen him going out, he seems fairly happy with life at the moment, how is his injury recovery coming on?
GA
Yeah, I mean he is still going to be a bit of time. He has had a good break at home which he thanked us for, because sitting here on his own and watching us play and not being able to do anything because he couldn't do any rehab work, I think he is just going to start his rehab work now, but, I think still four to five weeks away. But, he is glad to be back and he is really keen to get his season up and running, so with that timescale it is not imminent but he is happpy that he is going to start his rehab work and Dolly (Neil Dalton) will take care of him until such time as he is thrown back to me.
JP
He is such a pro, I asked what it was like seeing somebody come in and do so well in his position, and he said it is just good for the team and he doesn't really care as long as the team are doing well?
GA
Frank is a top, top guy, we have a lot of time for him the type of person he is and the type of personality, and he will be pleased that the team has kept going and got some momentum and he will be pleased with James (Tavernier). I wouldn't be surprised tomorrow if he is sat with James helping him and encouraging him in his role, because Frank is that sort of lad.
JP
Any further along with Newcastle and James Tavernier?
GA
No, at the minute we are waiting probably until the weekend is out of the way, the Newcastle boys will be probably having a break watching games, international games and that sort of thing, so Tuesday or Wednesday I think we will revisit that and try to get some resolve to that.
JP
On other injury situations, we have just seen the forehead of Stephen O'Halloran, he looks terrible but apparently he will be OK to be involved if needed?
GA
He only looks terrible because the doctor that stitched him up, I am not so sure he hadn't been cutting steaks and rumps before he has managed to do his head. I have never seen such a bad piece of jiggery pokery on somebody's head, back to the dark ages that. He will be OK I would think, he is an Irish lad isn't he, I think a knock on the head to them does them the world of good, I don't think there is any problem there whatsoever.
JP
Danny Livesey was carrying a bit of a knock in the game on Tuesday night, any hint of a problem for him or should he be OK with Lubo (Lubomir Michalik) still away?
GA
Danny Livesey will be absolutely fine, Danny is Danny, every time he comes off the pitch Danny he looks like he has been in a war, but that is the way he is. But, he is fine, he is back training today so there will be no problem with him.
JP
And what about Peter Murphy? How is he coming along?
GA
Murph is fine, he has trained with us today, yesterday and today, obviously he didn't travel with us for the midweek game but did Monday and Tuesday here with his rehab and then he has trained Thursday and Friday, so Murph is back and available.
JP
The loan window opening up of course now that the transfer window has finally come to a close, as things stand do you feel that you need to do anything or would it be more if you had an injury problem etc.?
GA
I have just got over the transfer window and I thought it was going to be at least a week, it is not even open and you are talking about it now. We are alright at the minute, if we need it we need it, we know it is there but at the minute we are fine with what we have got, injury-wise we are in good shape, if we need to visit it we would do but I think it is backburner for that thing just at the minute.
JP
Looking at that mad scramble for some managers were you pleased to have got your business done a little bit before the eleven o'clock deadline?
GA
Yeah, I mean it was more the big boys wasn't it, I have never known anything as ridiculous as players putting transfer requests in at twenty to eleven on a Wednesday night. If that doesn't tell people the transfer window is an absolute shambles then nothing else does, but think about the managers that have just given five year contracts to players who ring up on a Wednesday night and ask if they can have a transfer request at twenty to eleven. Come on, let's get this sorted out.
JP
And just finally, the fans we spoke to after Tuesday were remarkably upbeat actually who came on and sort of saw the positives I think of the games before Aldershot, but for everyone who is going to be down at Brunton Park it should be a cracking occasion and it would be great to have a good crowd there for you?
GA
Yeah, I mean I thought the crowd were brilliant last week, and they are seeing what we are and they are understanding of what we are and we keep sending the message out to what we are. But, what they want is an honest group that give everything they have got, die for the shirt and do their best to improve the team, and I think that is what they are getting more often than not.
They were probably seeing that game as we had a few injury problems and sort of whatever, and the international thing, and we probably weren't at full pelt strength-wise. But, tomorrow they know we are and they will probably be less sympathetic in the aftermath tomorrow if we don't get as performance, which is fine. We want to go there and I will be less sympathetic, I want us to go out there and win a game of football that takes us right up the top end of the league.