United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat at home to Tottenham, Abbott understandably disappointed with the result:
JP
You must be thoroughly proud of the way your team performed out there?
GA
Yeah, we are a tad disappointed. But, when a side comes and gives you the respect that Tottenham gave us and plays the game the right way and does it really in a professional manner with the quality they have got it is going to be difficult. We huffed and puffed and we worked exceptionally hard without little reward, if we could just have nicked a goal it would have just given the fans that little bit of excitement that they deserved tonight and give us a little bit of hope in the game. I think they played very well to be fair but we chased and harried and we closed down and we tried to get a head of steam up, not for the want of trying but there are some good players out there we are up against and I think they probably deserved to run out winners in the end.
JP
They maybe deserved to win but 3-0 we thought on reflection perhaps flattered them a little, the chance (Danny) Cadamarteri had that (Michael) Dawson headed away..............
GA
No, without a doubt, without a doubt, the third goal is a horrible one because 3-0 is always not a nice result for any team. So, we are a bit disappointed with that but it was probably closer than that the game. We needed one of our chances to go in just to give everybody a lift and excite people in the ground, that roar might have just roared us onto another one but it wasn't to be. But, we were disappointed when the third one went in, it seemed to be very, very late, I don't know exactly when it was but really late on in the game.
JP
Did you ever quite have an experience like this yourself as a player in a game of this magnitude?
GA
We beat Tottenham actually, I have said it this week, we beat them in the FA Cup fourth round I think, we beat them 1-0. But, I think the gap as the years go on gets bigger and bigger, the money involved at the top is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous and sometimes takes away the identity from the players to the fans with the amounts of finances involved. But, there we go, we kept going and like I said, we needed something to happen for us, maybe a goal to get that head of steam up and that encouragement to defend it, and we couldn't quite do it.
JP
Moving on from that, how important an experience will this be for your players just seeing how the best do it?
GA
I think the experience is fantastic, all the young players have to learn that, and that is what they have to aspire to if they want to be Premier League players. I think the more experienced ones have probably given up that dream, but certainly the young players if they have got aspirations then that is what they have to do. I thought the pace was a big difference, there was some phenomenal pace, and the size, the size of the players, so physically they are top athletes and I think that was a factor in the game as well.
JP
I don't think anyone should be disappointed on the pitch for you with their performances, but did anyone stand out you thought, they really stood up to the challenge tonight?
GA
I think little Chants (Chris Chantler) again, he has been unbelievable, he is five foot nothing and yeah, he just keeps going and some of his quality is great. He is a joy to watch actually and I think everyone is learning to love him here and I think Matty (Robson) with his energy and he kept going and Danny Cadamarteri as well was giving another top performance, we have got to be careful he doesn't burn himself out with the amount of energy he is putting into games. But, there were OK performances across the board, I thought we defended alright funny enough with the amount of attacking options they have got and great positions they found themselves into. We kept our goal relatively infact for most of the game, it lived dangerously at times I have to say.
JP
And is there any sort of a fear that this won't quite be the platform you want for Saturday or do you think it will work the other way?
GA
I don't think so, I think we can take a lot of encouragement and if we can play as well we will probably end up winning the game on Saturday, or be very close. So, we have got to reproduce but the key is now making sure everybody's mindset is Saturday and league points. If we can get a few wins on the board in the league we will creep right up the table, which is what we are after.
JP
And I want to labour a point that Chris (Lumsdon) made tonight, hopefully there will be some young kids out there, lads, girls, who have come and are going to become Carlisle fans off the strength of this atmosphere and this experience tonight?
GA
I think the message is come again, please come again.
JP
And keep coming in those numbers?
GA
Exactly, did I miss something off there? Yeah, no, keep coming and keep coming again, and you will have to put up with good performances, indifferent and average, but that is football for you. But, we need and want you through the gate, the atmosphere was phenomenal, great, absolutely fantastic.