United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 2-1 League One win at home to Rochdale, Abbott saying that the Blues didn't find the right formula in the first-half :
JP
You must be delighted with the way the team scrapped it out there this evening?
GA
I am delighted with the response after half-time, we weren't happy with our energy and our intensity at half-time and we told them, but we got a response, a terrific response. You saw the big players come to the party, you have seen Francois (Zoko) who was like chalk and cheese tonight, and second-half he deservedly wins us the game. But, we need that for 90 minutes, or we need his brilliance when he gets the ball to do those types of things and we tell him how good he could be if he really works hard at his game, and he is pivotal to what we are trying to do.
The second-half we could have won more handsomely in the end and it could have been a really convincing victory, and we wouldn't have been scrapping at the deat. But, listen, these have drawn with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, they are fighting for their lives, it is three points, it is another step towards where we want to be and everybody is happy with that.
JP
Much though as you are saying you didn't quite get the levels you wanted in the first-half, they did have a real good go Rochdale didn't they, they played their part in this game?
GA
They are a good side, listen, there are no bad sides in the division any more and there are no easy games here as we are finding out. Again, I thought our fans tonight, there were only 3,600, absolutely fantastic tonight and I applaud them and they need to spread the word around that we are meaning business and we need every bit of help we can possibly get. Because, this is a really tough ask for a club with the resources that we have got behind us and the size of the squad we have got, and when we go up against these big teams we know how difficult it is.
But, these fans are sticking with us and I am absolutely delighted for them tonight, they were magnificent and I mean that, and it is a small crowd and it is not good enough for what we need to get and for where we need to be. We are looking at moving the club forward and we need thousands more, and I think everybody now has got to start thinking, hang on, we are starting to achieve, from where we were when I took over this job now to where we are sitting here tonight, we have made massive strides on and off the field.
To take it further we need more and we need to spread the positivity through, and not listen to the people grumbling because it is nice for the radio show, let's listen to people come on and say they are not doing bad these guys. They have come from 21st in the division, they have gone to Wembley a couple of times over the piece and they are now sitting seventh in the league looking at teams above them, can we catch them, can we give this city some excitement between now and the end of the season. I think we have got to spread this message around and get more people in to give us a fighting chance.
JP
So, a big game for you on Saturday and hopefully a big gate for that one?
GA
All big games, and we need them, and I tell you what, come down, come down and have a look at us and see where we can............ See where you can take us because we can't do it on our own, we have proved that, we need the fans, we need everybody through that gate singing from the same hymn sheet. We have got a group down the front of the Paddock here that are fantastic, do you know what, I love them to bits, and we have a good crack with them, they criticise, they grumble, they moan, they tell me what to do.
They are here every single week, and do you know what, they go away every single week and they are still here and I can handle all that. It is people that don't go that sit in armchairs that want to criticise, not too bothered, I want them here, come and criticise and come and criticise us on the side of the pitch where we need your support, and they are the people we can deal with.
JP
So, basically the message is if you want to shout and moan that is fine but come and do it here?
GA
Come and do it here, come and do it here where we get right behind the team. Do you know what? this place with 6,000 in it, it is absolutely fantastic, 6,000 people in here it is fantastic and the type of stadium it is it generates an unbelievable atmosphere. Do you know what? If we are going to do what everybody wants us to do we need you here.
JP
We need that extra man in there. Just a few individuals in there, because it is great to hear your very candid thoughts on all things there, Chris Chantler, Danny Livesey and Francois Zoko in particular fantastic in a team display that really dragged you over the line tonight?
GA
Well you can thank the world we had Danny Livesey for the first-half, he was absolutely magnificent, he has headed everything, we didn't play particularly well, we had to change the shape of what we were doing. But, big players come to the party and Francois has won us the game, Danny Livesey has done as much in his own right to win us the game, the little man (Chantler) is developing into a really terrific player.
The people at Manchester City absolutely thought the world of him and sent him to us because they wanted him to have a career in the game. The way he is playing let's hope he does, but he has certainly showed us a lot of determination and grit and pivotal to what we are all about. It is what this football club is all about, everybody pulling together to find performances to get us across the line. Because, do you know what, we are actually boxing way above our weight, let me tell you that, we are boxing way above our weight.
But, come and drag us through will you, come and help us, I am appealing, come and help us get over the line, We will do all the work on the training field, the players will do their best on the pitch, you can be that extra man that we are going to need when we go up to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and the Huddersfields and all that with thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds and get up against what we have got. But, do you know what, these players are doing absolutely fantastic for this town and we need more people with us.
JP
I don't think we can say any more than that, your words will have inspired a few people, thanks for joining us and congratulations, and by the way Notts County have just let it go at the end, Tranmere have done you a favour and you are just a point behind them on the edge of the play-offs.
GA
Brilliant, great, I mean it is not too important about other teams just yet, it will be the last three or four. At the minute it is about us getting our act together and winning points and not looking.............. You don't need to look anywhere else when you are winning your home games, and that is another win chalked off and we go down now with 13 to play and we are still right in the right end.