United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's 3-2 victory away to Rochdale, Abbott saying that the Blues had to replicate the hard work of the 'Dale players :
JP
Back to back wins, you must be delighted with today's in particular?
GA
Today's performance for me goes down as one of our best all year, because of the situation where we have supposedly not got anything to play for, we could take our foot off the gas. We have played a team that is desperate for points that works so hard and everything that Keith (Hill) says about his players we try to replicate in terms of the honesty and the determination.
I think man for man, I hope both sides would agree that we haven't got the greatest players in the world but what they have achieved at Rochdale is phenomenal, and what we have done today in its own context has been fantastic. It has been a terrific game, the disappointing thing for me is Rochdale suffer from it, but we can't do anything about that. We wanted to win a game and they have got a hard task on now to continue their season. But, from our selfish point of view we have been delighted with the application of the players, and some of the football we thought at times today was brilliant.
JP
Very evenly matched as you have quite rightly said between the two sides, what do you think was the difference?
GA
Erm, have you been watching the same game as me? The two wonder strikes probably. Dave Flitcroft (Rochdale assistant manager) said that on another day they could have gone anywhere, but they flew into the top corner or wherever they went in, but they were brilliant. That was the difference, I think today both teams played a different style but both teams have matched each other in terms of probably not one is better than the other but I think the strikes on their day were probably good enough to win any game. We were fortunate enough to have those two players (Liam Noble and Matt Robson) hit that ball as sweetly as they have done, and that has probably won us the game, well it has won us the game.
JP
You have had a few games like this as well, I think back to Notts County, the 1-0 there where just a touch of quality was the difference, and that is going to be important in your hard-working side as they go into next year?
GA
I think they are more than just a hard-working side, I think we have played some great football today and I think credit where credit is due, that the players deserve people to say that they aren't just hard-working, they actually do play some terrific football. We have scored three fantastic goals today, as we did last week as well, so I think we are a bit more than hard-working.
JP
Whose were the pick of the goals for you then today?
GA
Nobs's, probably Nobs's was sensational wasn't it, it was absolutely fantastic, and if the awards hadn't already been done he has probably scored himself into the top three at least. But, it was a phenomenal strike, and Matty's moved all over the place and gave the keeper (Owain Fon Williams) probably no chance in the end. But, even the first goal was a terrific move, and I know it goes in off the defender (Marcus Holness), but terrific, some terrific stuff today from both teams.
JP
In terms of Matty Robson's goal, he has been trying those all season, he hasn't perhaps got it as well as he did against Exeter earlier in the season until today?
GA
Yeah, I mean we have been trying our hardest to get him off them, because all he has done is frighten the crowd. But, he is practicing them in training and what Matty has achieved this season is terrific. He has changed his position, we have put him into a different part of the pitch and I think his game has developed and I think he has got better and better and his confidence is getting higher and higher. Generally when your confidence is good things like that come off and it was nice to see him get that goal and he can be really satisfied with his second half of the season.
JP
You have been sticking with a relatively, and today entirely unchanged side in recent games when some fans have been calling for you to rotate your squad a little bit. Do you think today is vindication for that as a manager?
GA
You ask that group of fans that were sensational again today if they would have put with a lethargic performance because we tinkered too much. They would have been really upset, they have spent a lot of hard-earned money there and I know my team, I know my players and I know when I think they are going to be ready. We would have done a disservice to the other teams chasing for play-off spots if we had played a weakened side or a side that we knew wasn't the best we could put out. So, I think as a manager I have a duty to do that, I say the industry is all about winning games and I am going to try to continue to do that.
JP
When you were talking about progress in this season you have talked about maybe getting some silverware and finishing in the top ten, and today's result puts you into that. It is just about clinging onto it now for the final games of the season?
GA
Well, we have just said that we are just trying to accumulate as many points as we can. If we can finish the season nicely everybody can be delighted with what they have achieved and then hope to improve on it next year. We know just how hard it is going to be and in the top ten, win at Wembley with what we have and the resources we have been given, everybody knows it is difficult, I think the players could do with a few accolades to be honest.
JP
Tom Taiwo looked like he picked up a knock, he knew immediately that his afternoon was finished, what can you tell us about that injury?
GA
I have no idea, I haven't seen Tom at the minute, but he has just got a bit of ice on it, we will see how he is tomorrow. That is probably one of the good sides, if that is a change I have to make then I will have to make it, but it will be one that will be enforced through injury. But, we will see how he is tomorrow and then look at him on Monday.
JP
And of course this being a Bank Holiday weekend, straight back into action on Monday, another game coming up thick and fast for you?
GA
Straight into training tomorrow, we will train properly tomorrow, we will work on the Leyton Orient stuff and then hopefully with two more games at home we can show our supporters a really strong finish. But, it is not easy, the sun is shining, everybody is on holiday, Bank Holdays and weddings and all sorts of stuff. We have got to work and we have got to work right through to the end of the season, and we won't stop until the final ball has been kicked.