United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 3-2 Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round exit away to Accrington Stanley, Abbott saying that at least in the second half of the game the Blues showed some tenacity and determination :
JP
I am sure bitter disappointment for you, how do you feel this evening?
GA
I feel a bit better because of the way we have played in the second-half, we have shown a bit of spirit which is that tenacity and that determination that seems to have been lacking for a couple of games and I don't know why. We have to had to wait for the sending-off to really kick into gear tonight and I felt in the second-half with ten men we played really, really quite well. So, it was a bit disappointing, down to nine was always going to be tough.
JP
What do you think? Do you think the red cards did turn the game?
GA
Well the first one made us better and it is not because it was Peter (Murphy), what I meant was that we just seemed to show a little bit more togetherness and a bit more resolve. We were alright with that and we played really, really well with ten men, some fantastic stuff second half with that. Then the nine is a problem because then you haven't got a get out really, you are overloaded either side and it was very difficult to shuffle across and cover two men down. But, pleased with the sort of resolve and determination that has come back into the eleven, whichever eleven it is.
JP
You came close to getting goals both with (Craig) Curran in the first spell, it looked like you were going to be quite comfortable, it looked like it was a matter of time but then they got away and got the goal themselves?
GA
Yeah, and I mean those are the things, the goals that we didn't score you have to score, that is when you are on top and you are playing well and you look the better side, if you don't score goals people get encouragement. We have talked about this a long time and we need to be more clinical and I have got to stop offering excuses for people that don't finish. We have got to put the ball in the back of the net, whoever it is, and that is not the strikers, that is everybody in the team, when you get chances you must put the ball in the back of the net.
When you are on top you have to put the opposition to the sword and we let them off the hook and then they score a goal, a really awful goal. I am not sure from where we were stood whether the defender should deal with it or the keeper (Adam Collin) should come for it but he gets it and he (Craig Lindfield) nicks in between two and we are 1-0 down and then you start feeling sorry for yourselves a little bit, which is what I thought we did.
JP
I must bring this stat up because it is one that a few people have mentioned tonight, it is nine matches now in all competitions this season since United have scored in the first 45 minutes, I mean is that having an impact? It is almost like you are having to do it all in the second 45 minutes at times?
GA
I am not.............. Listen, if we had won the game on Saturday we would have gone near enough top of the league so I am not so sure where that stat............... As long as you score more than the other team it doesn't matter when you score them. But, it shows we are fit but maybe coming out of the traps a little but tougher, a little bit stronger, I don't know, it is something that might be a coincidence because we had this last year where we conceded goals in the last few minutes and that was a problem.
But, they are not really issues as long as you score more than the opposition, but I will take it on board, I am not so sure it is something we need to be too concerned on whether that is the reason for losing games. I don't know, it is not something I care too much about, as long as we score more than them it doesn't matter when the goals come, and we scored two in the second-half which put us 2-1 up, and if we had stayed with ten men on the pitch we would have won the game so that would have been OK and nobody would have been bothered about that stat I don't think.
JP
All of a sudden out of nowhere it is three defeats on the trot, albeit in tricky circumstances in particular tonight, it is an important game now for you at the weekend?
GA
No, all games are important, seriously, you know the way we are, I am disappointed we have lost the game, not the fact it is three on the trot, it is just another game, we have lost a game, we like to win games and we wanted to win this trophy again. We're not going to do it now and good luck to Accrington, but three on the bounce, I want to win games, the team needs to win games and that builds confidence and builds belief and that is the biggest disappointment from tonight, we have lost a game which we think we should have won a game.
JP
How disappointing as well is it in a competition that you are the holders of to go out at this round?
GA
Erm, it is just disappointing that we have gone out in the way we have gone out because like I said, we don't like losing games. So, the cup thing has gone this year, we have done very, very well in the last couple of years and we are running out of things to focus on now, the league and the FA Cup, that is what we have got so that is what we have to do.
JP
I told you about the negative tweets if you like from fans, one fan has been in touch to say that Southampton went out in the first round last year and they got promoted, so onwards and upwards?
GA
Well, I love that one, so, listen, you will always have grumbles when you get beat and we will always have people that are happy when we win, and we haven't won so people will be grumbling, that is OK.
JP
Yeah, of course they will, what about the two men who have gone off now (James Berrett and Peter Murphy)? Does that mean they are both missing for the weekend?
GA
Yeah, that is a massive disappointment and that is a bigger picture, that is a big disappointment, but that is it, that is the way the rules are.
JP
And is Lubo Michalik back for this one or is he still unavailable?
GA
No, he is back.
JP
He is back, so that is at least a boost for you, what is the situation with Matty Robson because he had a bit of a tweak?
GA
Yeah, he has got an inflamed groin, but we think he is going to be OK to train on Thursday, so hopefully he will be back in contention on Saturday.
JP
So, you should be able to cover certainly those areas?
GA
Yeah.
JP
Overall feelings from tonight?
GA
Erm, pleased with the determination that we think is back because of the situation, very disappointed with the first half showing. We have got to come out of the blocks, that is more to the point, not the scoring but coming out and being a bit fiercer and more competitive. I think if you are like that then the chances are you might score, but we missed the easy chances didn't we in the first half and that is important.