United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 4-2 League One win at home to Portsmouth, Abbott saying that it was a ridiculous end to the game with four goals in seven minutes:
JP
Four goals in and after the 90th minute, what a finish to a match?
GA
Maybe you could say that the players aren't properly fit yet and have run out of steam. I don't know, it was ridiculous wasn't it really, as a manager Michael (Appleton) and myself would probably have rather seen it end 2-0, but we never do things easy do we. I think there is a bit of anxiety through getting your first league win, but we have got it now and we can put it to bed and we can relax and try to shape our team and shape the way we play. There was a big response from Tuesday night and you have to take your hats off to the players for that.
JP
Worked very hard, result first, how important was it to get back to winning ways now?
GA
Well, that is what it is all about, it is vital that you take that anxiety and that monkey off your back, we have got it now, we will probably move up to mid-table, it looks a lot better reading than it did last week. You try to drive on forward, we have got a tough game next week but that will give us confidence for Tuesday if we can get a result against a really good side (Ipswich), I know they have taken a drubbing today but if we can get a confidence booster against them in terms of our performance then we go next week with good heart and try to get some consistency to our play. Because, at the minute we are consistently inconsistent.
JP
Very much so, I was at pains to say result first, performance second then, what did you make of it?
GA
A lot of it was fantastic, a lot of it was brilliant, the response, we asked for a response after Tuesday, we got an unbelievable amount of energy, an unbelievable amount of spirt. Was it a fluent, perfect football performance? I don't think it was, not by quite a way, but it was exciting, it was honest, it was littered with mistakes, it was littered with good play.
But, the key is we have got four goals, we could have had a few more, they could have had a couple, at the end of it that is what fans come to see. It gives them a lot of talk in the pubs and clubs around the town tonight, and some of it will be good, some of it will be critical but the important thing is the honesty that the players showed, and then it is up to us to work on trying to get the consistency and the fluency to our play. Which at times was a bit ragged, certainly in the last 15 minutes.
JP
Chris Lumsdon and myself as soon as the commentary finished had to have a sit down we were that shattered by it. Lord only knows what you must have been like?
GA
Yeah, well, we are in an industry where everybody has got an opinion and everybody has had their opinion this week. Hopefully there will be a lot of positive vibes coming back after that, it is a difficult job, it is a difficult situation that we are at and where the club is at. But, we all stick together, as a group everybody did the warm-up, everybody was in the dressing room before the game, we all warmed up together, we all stayed together through the game, half-time and everything and afterwards.
We are all in it together after the game and we have got a reward, and if we can do that and keep ourselves together all season then we are going to be OK. It is a really tough league, it is a tough time for everybody connected with this club but we are going to fight all that and try to produce honesty and produce stirring performances, which is what we have got. Not an absolutely mistake free performance but certainly stirring I think is a decent word.
JP
And I think if anyone expected Portsmouth because of the turmoil they are in to come here and just be a pushover they will have learnt that quickly?
GA
Well, they have had two terrific results, Bournemouth and Colchester, two really, really decent sides who you would expect to be round about it again this year. So, there is no way that they.............. They have got some good players, Brian Howard is a top Premiership.............. There is a few players played in the Premiership for them today.
So, they have got players with absolute top class pedigree, and they have caused us a lot of problems but we have matched them with a lot of effort and endeavour. We got higher up the pitch and we got into people's faces, and we caused them as many problems I think with our attitude and our determination as what they might have expected.
JP
I think a few people around us here in the press box flinched when Paddy Madden scored because I shouted that loud, were you as delighted as I was for him?
GA
Well, of course we were, Paddy has had a really............. He was absolutely devastated when he got his knock because he was looking really, really razor sharp pre-season and he didn't get his games. He was out for the bulk of it, he has only had one day's training, one day's proper training, but we know he has got pace, we know he can get behind people, and he is a good finisher believe it or not.
He has been erratic at times, but he needs games, he needs consistency, but that will do him the world of good. Everybody is pleased for him, he is a wonderful kid and we have to stick with them. Every player goes through up and down times and we do, the club does, but we have to stick with it. We all support the people we have got and give them that confidence and try to give them that encouragement to go on and perform, so pleased for him that he has got his goal.
JP
Jake Jervis as well, a debut goal, what a goal?
GA
Yeah, a terrific goal, again, only because we worked hard to win the ball back, J-P (Jon-Paul McGovern) higher up the pitch causing the left-back (Jon Harley) problems, taking the ball off him, putting in a J-P cross and Jake has scored the perfect centre-forward goal and he gets off to a good start. I thought he was terrific by the way over the piece, I thought he has had a real contribution, could have had another one in the game with his shooting, looks powerful and he has added something to the squad which was definitely needed.
JP
Without going too much into your changes because they are a manager's prerogative to make, one or two fans have mused over Jon-Paul McGovern's contribution, yet two assists from him for your first two goals, a good display?
GA
Yeah, listen, we know if we are going to play with two strikers you need a supply and he gives you a supply. There will always be conflict over selections and that is why the game is what it is, but some you get right and some sometimes you get wrong. But, I see what they see, trust me, I see what they see, I see what everybody sees and I make my judgements and we talk with everybody and then we make selections with teams we think can go out and do the business. But, J-P has worked very, very hard today and he has put in two fantastic balls for two goals, so that is a right-wingers job.
JP
One bit of bad news for Jake Jervis, well more for us, is that he can't play of course in the cup?
GA
Yeah, I mean that is a shame because he needs games as well. He will have not played and trained at the intensity that he has in the last couple of days, but he has got his game under his belt, he will work hard with us this week and then we see where we go.
JP
He can look forward now to MK Dons hopefully with the rest of the team, what a game everyone here at Brunton Park can look forward to, three in a row now on Tuesday night?
GA
Yeah, I mean it is one of them we can come out now with less fear, with less anticipation and really have a good go at Ipswich and maybe take advantage of them while they are a bit down. But, we were down after Tuesday and I am sure there will be a reaction with Paul (Jewell), I know Paul very well obviously, and there will be a reaction from them and it will be a tough, tough game.
JP
A great friend of yours isn't he in football?
GA
Yeah, he is a top guy, we were together for seven or eight years at Bradford and we socialised together, we still remained in touch even though we don't ring each other every week, I don't think football people do that. I can't do facebook so I don't see him on that, and if I can't do it then he certainly won't be able to do it.
JP
Any injuries or knocks coming out of this game?
GA
There is just a knock to my head, but that will be alright, that will sort itself out. I think they are alright, the boys are alright and they will feel a lot better today than they did on Tuesday night.
JP
A funny old game today but exactly what the doctor ordered?
GA
Stirring.