United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 3-0 League One defeat at home to Tranmere, Abbott saying that the Blues were lacking desire, fight and spirit in the performance:
JP
Three of the best goals we will have ever seen at Brunton Park the difference between the two sides tonight or was there more to it than that?
GA
I think there was more to it than that. Hats off to the goals, it's not very often you get three in one go, every one was perfect. But, it's not just the goals, it is not the 3-0, it is the desire, the lack of desire, the lack of fight and the lack of spirit. We are all responsible for that, at the top of it I have got to take............ I have gone in there and I have said I will take my fair share, and I said that some of you lads have got to come with me, they have got to come with me and stand up and be brave and accept responsibilty in everything we do.
Because, that is a performance that goes back three or four years, we haven't had one of them where we have been beaten too comfortably without really hurting the opposition. Alright we had three bookings but even then they are bookings, they are not even proper challenges, and it is when you are 2-0 down, which we need that right from the start. We need that fight and we need better spirit and we need better quality, quite a lot of things we needed better than we delivered tonight.
JP
I know you always say you can always stop goals, but do you think you could have done any more to stop them? They were such good goals?
GA
Listen, the goals were fantastic, I am not too worried about the goals, you will stop goals if you play better and if you don't give them the ball. We gave the ball away, our midfield which is one of the strongest departments of our team gave the ball away so cheaply early on, surrendered possession. They get the ball in deep ends, we then don't get tight with people, we are then chasing back and we concede free-kicks, they are the things that worry you.
Listen, the strikes are wonderful, not a great deal you can do about them, but it is the other things. They don't happen if we have got the ball, they can't score if we have got the ball and we protect it and if we close people down and we get higher up the pitch and we look after the ball better. We played at a tempo bordering on testimonial level, that isn't us and we have just said there, the shouting was done at half-time, the reaction was OK, if anything OK at best.
But, the reaction now is Saturday, we have to prepare properly now and work hard, get on the training ground and maybe a few messages, a few home truths, maybe some changes within what we do on Saturday. Nobody out there can actually be too upset if they lost their place for Saturday, and places are at a premium. First team shirts at every club in all the divisions are at a premium and once you lose it and people go on a run of wins and good performances then you don't get it back, so nobody can have too many complaints I don't think.
JP
You are being very honest because those goals were good enough to win any game, it is good to hear you saying that and I am sure the fans will appreciate that, what do you learn now and what do you have to take into Saturday to make sure you get the reaction you are after?
GA
I just want fire in the belly, first things first I want fire in the belly and I want 4,000 and whatever supporters to go home thinking those eleven lads died for the cause and died for the management team and died for everything. Because, we have generally given everything we have got, we have come unstuck against certain teams for being outplayed or outgunned or people with more resources.
It is not a time to talk about lack of this or lack of that or what we have and haven't got. When we go out on that pitch we give everything we have got, every single ounce of energy and determination and the fans come away thinking 'well, hang on, we got beat but the players did us proud, they did, they tried, they played, they defended, they attacked and everything was OK.'
It wasn't tonight, it wasn't OK tonight and it was far from it, listen, I don't tell.......... I pack no punches, we don't hide from the truth and when I see something like that we make reactions to that. They know where we are with it, they know how I feel about it and Thursday and Friday we will be training very, very hard and properly, and then when we come out on Saturday I would hope there is a hell of a lot of fire in the belly.
JP
I know that you have been working to try to increase your options upfront before and after the injury to Lee Miller, does this increase the need to get that sorted?
GA
I think something might be done tomorrow in that respect. But, he must be some player for us to fold as easy as that if that is what we are like without one player, one single player. I don't think it is just down to Lee Miller, that is down to people's attitude and preparation and getting their mental mindset right for a football game. You could play with ten men and Lee Miller is not one of them and we would still be better than we were tonight, not acceptable by any means. But, we are trying and I think something will happen for Saturday in terms of another striker coming in, that is for sure, maybe another one after that, who knows.
JP
I was going to say, because I did say before and after Miller because I knew that you were already looking at that, I just meant with the injury. So, there could maybe even be a couple then hopefully for Saturday?
GA
Well, I would like to think that there is one near enough done, looking at tonight maybe six or seven. But, let's not get carried away, let's not be too............. Listen, the players that have got us in that position have to get us out of it because that is what we have. Maybe another one would be OK, but certainly one for sure and then we have a look and see. We might have to wait a week for the loan window, the end of the transfer window sorry, because teams are hanging on to their players at the minute thinking they can sell them. If they don't sell them then they might loan them out but I think we need a bit more.
JP
Given how close it is can you tell us anything about the player who might happen tomorrow or is it still not something you can say?
GA
We had better not for fear of it breaking down or somebody else taking him, or he looks at our result and thinks of doing something else. But, it looks it is going to be done and hopefully by midday tomorrow we can announce that and you will know who it is.