United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 3-1 League One win at home to Oldham, Abbott saying that it was a difficult night for the Blues:
GA
I am in a good frame of mind, difficult, it was a difficult night tonight because of the run we have had at home and the way the table looked before the game. There is no panic, there won't be if we win three or four games and there won't be if we lose two or three games, that is the way it is at the minute, the league is taking shape. But, two or three games, big games and big performances put you right up in the top ten, two or three bad ones puts you in the end that you don't want to be.
The boys have been, apart from the Notts County thing, there is a great spirit throughout the club, we thought we played really well on Saturday without getting anything. But, today those chances went in, I think some of the balls we have been putting in in the last few weeks consistently have been terrific. To be fair to Joe (Garner) he has got on the end of two today and it got us a result.
JP
The goals were always going to come, you knew that, the fans knew that, the players knew that, but did you believe it definitely?
GA
I never knew that, after the misses we had on Saturday I didn't know that, I wouldn't be sitting here thinking Joe Garner might have lapped them up, well he might have missed one, might have got one out of the two. I thought first-half we played alright but we were a bit edgy, it is one of them, it gets into your mindset without even knowing. We tear the roof off the dressing room when we think it is right, after Notts County we were really upset, we told them to respond to that, they owed everybody.
But, tonight we are on their side because there was a little bit of edginess in their play first-half, even though we thought we played OK, the game was an OK game, there was nothing in it either way. We knew we were better than that and once you get the goal you can see the shackles come off and we start playing some really decent football, I thought the goals were terrific in the end.
JP
They really were, surprisingly you might find this, you probably won't actually but some fans might, Grant (Holt) and Chris (Lumsdon) have given the man of the match to Liam Noble, they felt he really turned the game, setting up a couple of the goals?
GA
He has worked his socks off, and Liam, he wants to play, he wants to be part of it. If you could ever have a type of character within your group that will make something happen for you Liam is the man. I thought his work for the first goal was fantastic, he is a little bit lucky actually, he was trying to be too precise, free he has got at the far-post and for me if he puts his foot through it he scores. But, I think that again is that edginess of us not scoring, but I thought his all-round performance was fantastic.
I thought we managed to dominate the midfield, and at the end they resorted to knocking the ball in our box which we defended in the end. But, I thought Matty Robson did really well as well with his work to stop (Reece) Wabara going forward as well, that might sound a bit odd our left-winger stopping their right-back but he is a flying machine, and Matty not only caused him problems going the other way, he stopped him getting into any dangerous areas coming toward our goal.
JP
A number of players, I mean the whole team did well didn't they, you have got to when you get on top of a run like this and start getting the goals, but just so many players in there and I really felt Frank Simek had a super game there, really showing you the consistency of his performance in there?
GA
I didn't realise he was playing, and that is a good sign for a full-back. He just does you a job and he gets on with it and he has got that experience, first-half I think (Cristian) Montano did him and he recovers and gets a nick in and gets away with it. But, we have needed it, we looked better defensively tonight to be honest, we really did look better, and I think Paul (Thirlwell) sitting in front breaking things up and giving them a bit of protection is a help. On our day when we have got that platform we play alright, we play some decent football, I thought we tried to pass it all the way through the game and that is where we made a couple of mistakes first-half, but only through trying.
JP
A real shame you didn't get the clean sheet, a soft penalty as well to ruin that?
GA
Yeah, rubbish, but that is referees for you, they have got to get involved in the show at some point haven't they. I battered the fourth official, he is hopeless as well, they all are hopeless. But, we laugh with them and try to get some humour out of them because I will tell you what, they must go to the Humourless School Academy because there is nothing with it, and you go over the mark and you in are in the stand and it costs you £1,000. So, I retracted from what I said to him.
JP
So, you withdraw everything you have just said as well?
GA
No, no, that is banter there, hopefully they can see that and have a bit of a laugh with you afterwards, but it is alright when we have won.
JP
Just because of goal difference, you could be as high as tenth in terms of the points you have scored now, but just staying in the bottom half of thet table, but only five points off the play-offs again, it just shows how quickly it all comes around?
GA
We could be on tenth on goal difference?
JP
No, no, if it weren't for goal difference.
GA
Well, that is ridiculous, with people there was a little bit of a panic setting in, hopefully that just relays that. We have got to capitalise on this on Saturday, beat or get a result against Bournemouth and we have had a terrific week. We can look forward to the cup tie then, because if we win the next two games we probably are in the top ten, in the second round of the FA Cup, we draw Norwich away in the third round and Grant pays our way down for the overnight stop.
JP
I think that is a verbal contract we just had there. Look, we mustn't wash over everything though, how much of a relief it is to get the goals and to turn a little bit of a corner here at Brunton Park?
GA
Well, I am talking some rubbish and that is the relief coming out of me isn't it. We are relieved, of course we are relieved, we don't like losing, I don't like losing, and sometimes you look at where you are going to put it right. But, there was no great panic really, apart from the Notts County game we have been in most games and we have been looking like scoring most games, it is putting your chances away.
Saturday if we are better at one end, better at both ends really, we win the game. If we had won the game Saturday and winning tonight we would be sitting in sort of tenth position and everybody is thinking what a great start. Remember we are without a few really influential players as well, which we are trying to alleviate and we are trying not to talk about, but they are vital to how we play.
We are doing OK, people have to understand where we are and what type of club we are at the moment, and we just have to make the best of what we have got, and to be fair the players are really honest and they give everything they have got, so we can't have any complaints.
JP
And let me seize on the euphoria, I don't know whether you would normally tell me this or not, but I hear Lee Miller is off to see the surgeon tomorrow and hoping that he can start to move things on with his recovery?
GA
He is, but he is still six weeks away so I am not getting too excited, it is nice to see him back around smiling, but the quicker he is on the green stuff the better for us. If we can stay around the top ten until he gets back and we get the other lads back then we are in there again.
JP
Early days of course for another man who is on his way back from injury, but we are just starting to see a bit more of Rory Loy about the club as well?
GA
Yeah, and J-P (Jon-Paul McGovern), so I think the Scotch lads get injured together and go away for a holiday halfway through the season, come back half a stone overweight and I have to get them fit.
JP
Looking ahead then to Saturday and it must feel so much better to look ahead now that you have got the monkey off your back with the goals and you are looking ahead to a team (Bournemouth) who have drawn and conceded three, albeit with Notts County tonight?
GA
I'm looking forward to tonight never mind Saturday night for a beer. I think will about Saturday tomorrow, give me a break.
JP
Go for a beer then.