United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 4-1 League One win at home to Exeter, Abbott saying that all the Blues could do today was perform in front of their own fans :
JP
A lovely victory for your side today and you have done your part?
GA
Yeah, I mean that is all we can do, regardless of whatever else happens anywhere in the country in our league we had to perform for our fans. They have backed us, I think there was over 6,000 again today, it is what we have asked for, it is what we have strived for and we have won a game 4-1 and everybody has got to be reasonably pleased with the way our season has gone up to press. Certainly the home form, I think that is one defeat in about 18 games and it is an admirable effort from our players to do that.
JP
They are just kicking off of course in the game between Sheffield United and Stevenage, fingers crossed for that one but a late sickener, Notts County losing heading into injury time I believe and they have turned it round?
GA
Yeah, listen, that happens. We just had to do what we had to do, we lost control of that situation with the three game run we have just had, we had a really tough run with all the circumstances surrounding our team and our squad. But, we can only do what we have done today and that is win a game and for that you have to give great credit to the players. They have worked exceptionally hard all season and there might be just one more twist in there somewhere let's hope.
JP
As I mentioned, we have to wait and see how it goes between Sheffield United and Stevenage, but you said you wanted the team to try to keep the season alive right to the last day, and what a good effort from everyone to make that happen today?
GA
I mean it is admirable, it really is admirable you know. The fans there have stood and they have cheered their players and it has been a wonderful effort from us up to press. We just have to make sure we go into next week's game as positive and as brave. We have created a lot of chances today in the game and we had to play attacking football, wide-open. We did concede some chances to Exeter, but our attacking play was probably as good as it has been for a while in terms of chances created and possible goals we could have scored, and we have got four.
JP
Yeah, and some of them were wonderful, I mean it was a great attacking display as you say, and at times Exeter could have had more of a say you felt in the game?
GA
Yeah, I mean Exeter, it probably wasn't a 4-1 game, it could have been about a 9-7. But, we don't want the games to be as open, that is what happens when we open up and play as aggressive and attacking as that, you do leave gaps in the team. You take the little fella out Tom (Taiwo) and you know what you are going to miss but you know you are going to get that added attacking fluency with the type of players we have got.
But, he certainly breaks things up for us and that is what we miss and that is why he is there and that is why people like Thir (Paul Thirlwell) are there to stop those attacks coming against us. But, we have got four goals, we have seen Francois (Zoko) at his best in the game and at his worst in the game. But, he has got his two goals, he promised me he would get them, fantastic.
Cooky (Jordan Cook), it is a wonder finish for his and I thought the first goal was as good as we have seen for a while again, a great bit of movement and play. But, listen, at least the crowd have seen four goals, again they have not seen a drab end to the season and we have kept it going and we will see what happens next week.
JP
Must mention the man who is out there on the pitch with his family right now, and the fans of Carlisle United here at Brunton Park today showed their support for him and his extended family out there, Lee Miller?
GA
Yeah, listen, at times like this Lee knows he has got another leg of support and everybody connected with Carlisle has given him that, and he will be really grateful for that and hopefuilly it eases the problems he is having at the moment.
JP
Steered towards this, I couldn't hear it because we were commentating, but apparently from the 14th minute onwards they were singing for ten solid minutes 'there's only one Lee Miller', 14 his number of course?
GA
That's right you know, listen, like I said, he has got support and it is a long road now for him to get his own personal situation sorted out with his family, and we are going to be there for him, and obviously the fans have shown they are for him as well today.
JP
By the time we talk again Stevenage could have defied all the odds and won at Sheffield United, what are your feelings now you have completed the home leg of the season on how this season has gone for Carlisle United?
GA
Well, it has gone great up to now you know, we are very, very close to achieving a top six position, which given everybody's resources in the table would have been a phenomenal achievement, but we are still in there fighting.
JP
You said at the start of the season though that you wanted top ten, and you are going to have achieved that so hats off for that?
GA
Yeah, I meant top six though.
JP
You always did didn't you?
GA
Well, you have to have ambition, and we have got drive and we have got passion and we have got determination, and we are working a lot harder than people might give us credit for at times. But, this is a really, really difficult job and I think we are making a decent fist of it at the minute, and hopefully we can improve it as we go along even further.
JP
And I know we will speak about Oldham in the week looking forward to that one, final question then, what have you made of the new kit for the boys today?
GA
Yeah, I am not a kit man, I am just bothered about what is inside the kit, and the results that we get. But, if people like it great, there will probably be some people that don't like it, but I am not really too fussed what we wear.
JP
I tell a lie, it wasn't my last question, I have just been steered towards James Berrett, did he pick up a knock today?
GA
I think he has just got a dead knee, he should be alright.
JP
Everyone else OK?
GA
Everybody is fine, yeah.