United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Thursday's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about Carlisle's FA Cup second round tie at Charlton tomorrow :
GA
It is a good one for us, two reasons, we think we have............. I am not a big one on revenge and stuff like that but I didn't think we did ourselves justice down at Charlton a few weeks ago. Without doubt though they are the best team in the league and they proved that by beating Huddersfield, who I think are really, really strong. So, we have got it all on but hopefully we can produce a much better performance than we did last time out and gain a bit more respect in that area. Because, people in London expect a really tough game and especially us beating them the season before 3-1 and one of our best performances of the season, we were all slightly disappointed with our showing so let's hope we can put that right.
JP
Going into that Huddersfield game for them what would you have preferred? Would you have preferred Huddersfield to carry on that run and to beat them and beat their resolve a little or would you have preferred them to be sort of maybe cock-a-hoop and just potentially take you lightly?
GA
Erm, there are loads of ways of looking at it, I think we have got to focus on ourselves a little bit more on Saturday. On our day if we play like we can and defend like we know we are capable of with that resilience and strength, and then we know we have got attacking players in the team that can score, I think we can cause most teams a problem. But, we have to be right and we have to stay in the game and we have to not give cheap goals away, and we gave cheap goals away last time out.
So, yeah, probably if I had had a choice it would have been one of them, they are probably now going to think the league is there or thereabouts for them and they might be concentrating on that. But, knowing footballers and football staff and managers they will want to win every single game they play in, and I don't think Chris (Powell) and his team will be any different.
JP
You have talked about not perhaps quite revenge, James Berret has said as well, owing the fans one from the trip to Charlton last time, is that something, do you want to go on and put on a show for them irrespective of how the match goes?
GA
Yeah, it is not revenge in terms of any sort of sleight on Charlton at all, no, it is just revenge on our own performance, for our own performance. A duty to the fans and we think we have got that at home or away or wherever we are, and to be fair most of our trips and most of our football has been accepted warmly by the fans. But, that was one where we think we were below par, but I think they will forgive us for that for the way we have played for most of the season. But, we never want to disappoint our fans wherever we go, and I think Saturday is a chance if they come again second time round then we can maybe put that right, let's hope so anyway.
JP
And for you then, how do you go about undoing that then at the weekend?
GA
By performing to our best, we will have to be at our best to do that. On our day we know we can compete, we did it against Sheffield Wednesday who aren't a million miles behind Charlton, we have done it against Huddersfield who aren't a million miles behind Charlton. So, we know on our day we are capable, we have just got to make sure we do everything to the best of our ability and hope Charlton aren't quite at full tilt. At full tilt, and both teams at full tilt, they are probably favourites and they should win the game. But, football doesn't work like that, and I think the key for us is to go there and really cause them a few problems.
JP
Any injury doubts coming into the game? Anybody who has picked up anything that might cause them to be a struggle for it?
GA
We have got one player with a slight problem but we have kept it under wraps, but he has trained today and he has come through really, really well, so he is the only one concern. We are getting Frankie (Simek) back in full training, probably leave him behind this week. Welshy (Andy Welsh) was back on the training pitch which was fantastic, so we are near enough touch wood at full quota, so we are alright.
JP
How are Frankie and Andy Welsh getting on then at the moment? How have they been and how do they look having got back into full training?
GA
Yeah, I mean Frankie has trained most of this week and looked very good. Welshy is going to join in with us I think on maybe Tuesday or Wednesday next week, so that is great news because you know we have got a lot of games coming up over Christmas. With the possibiltity of injuries and the possibility of suspensions and stuff like that we need all the bodies, so we are really encouraged by their progress.
JP
And I know Paddy Madden struggled a little bit with his moustache, but how is he doing in terms of maybe getting back into the first team frame for you?
GA
He is coming on is Paddy, again he is back where he was fighting to establish himself and carve his football out. But, he has come with a real determination since his injury, so frustrated that he has been out for three and a half months but he is around us now and I am sure he will travel with us tomorrow. There is an 18 man squad rather than 16 for the game, so he is going to be involved in that and if required we will see where he is coming from.
JP
And I must just finally ask you about the situation with Rory Loy, one or two things, allegations in his private life, does it enter your mind as a manager with that in the background to maybe leave him out of it at a time like this?
GA
No, I dealt with Rory in September when the incident happened, and he knows my thoughts on it and we move on from there now until after the trial and then we go from there. But, as far as I am concerned it was dealt with months ago and he knows what I am thinking, he knows my train of thought and I know his and I will wait for next week before we go any further with that one.
JP
With the fact that it has come out and it is public knowledge, is there any concern with you that he might not be as focused on the game or are you happy that he is where he needs to be to be involved?
GA
We will find out on Saturday, that is all we can do is see where he is on Saturday, and if I don't think he is right then we do something about it. He has been training great, so he looks like he is OK, nobody likes what is going on but he looks like he is alright, ready to play, the way he has been doing we will give him that and then we will see where he is in his performance.