Greg Abbott On The Tranmere Win

Last updated : 06 September 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Blues boss Greg Abbott
United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's 3-0 win at home to Tranmere, Abbott understandably happy with United's first home league win of the season :


JP

A good day, a 3-0 victory, how do you feel today?

GA

Better than I have been before. It is a good victory for us, it is a good performance and at long last we have won a game convincingly and sent the fans home hopefully very, very happy.

JP

There was a feeling that a performance and a result like this, perhaps more the result than the performance, might be coming for Carlisle United and it really has.

GA

Well we knew what we were capable of, we think that we are doing OK. We felt that the Exeter game was a big disappointment because we felt like we should have won that. We got the breaks that we needed today, we had loads and loads, I have lost count of the amount of goalscoring opportunities we have had and crosses into the box, but you must have quite a bit on your pad.

That was the key to it, I thought Matty Robson, an endless supply of ammunition for the strikers and Kevan (Hurst) is a good player on the other side who was probably not as much in it as Matty was. But that was due to how well he has played, but it is a good performance and it is a really good victory.

JP

Talk us through Matty Robson, one of your summer signings today who was unanimous man of the match in commentary, he was unanimous with the sponsors as well, a really good game today. Everything about him, getting back and working with Ian Harte and getting the ball in as well, very valuable for you.

GA

He is not bad for a defensive left-back is he, as we were talking about him three or four weeks ago, I did tell you to listen. You have started to listen, which is great, we are having a bit of a laugh about it now but what we are trying to do is get Matty doing what he has done today on a regular basis. When he plays with that pace and power he is going to cause a problem for everybody.

He is a tough little cookie as well isn't he, we have seen him make his tackles, he is winning his headers and he has been terrific. He will go away and enjoy his afternoon's work, and we are pretty pleased to have him with us and hopefully there will be more of that.




JP

How important was it today, even at 0-0, some big tackles going in from some of your players, a lot of commitment and that was really winning the fans over. That was really getting them up for the game and when you get them doing that it almost reflects then back onto the players and drives you on.

GA

Well you know what we have been trying to do, you have been following us now for all the season. We said that we are going to be determined, we said that we are going to be tough. We are not going to take no prisoners, we want bite, we want determination, we want a nasty edge to our game. I think today you have seen that and I think at Bristol (City) you have seen it and at (Leyton) Orient you have seen it.

We are getting where we want to be and it all takes time. I have asked for patience and people have been patient, now what we want to see is more people coming through the gates and supporting what we are doing. I know times are thick and things aren't easy but hopefully with more performances like this we can get that extra thousand that have deserted us to an extent. They can come back and just follow what we think is going to be a good team.

JP

You have talked about a progression then, getting that little bit better each time and getting to where we are today. But what was so different today to your opening two games at Brunton Park from those performances.

GA

Well I don't think there is anything much different from Exeter, I think the goals are the key, you need to score when you are on top and today we did do and then we ran out comfortable winners. But we feel that we have been playing very well, we feel that we are shaped up nicely at the back, defensively we seem to have fewer problems than we had last season and the early part of this.

We think that we have got genuine threats from wide areas and people that are going to get the ball in the box, and we have a really, really experienced solid look to our midfield as well. So we think that we have got it right today and the result has reflected that and onwards and upwards.




JP

What do you think has been the impact of Richard Offiong, he has not quite clicked 100% on the pitch for you just yet but in terms of what he has brought out of your other strikers, he has really drawn the best out of them.

GA

Well I think he has had a good 15-20 minutes today to be honest. I thought he looked lively, he looked strong, he looked quick. He has got a couple of crosses in, he has held the ball up OK, but what he does is he has inspired the others to raise their game. Because they know if they dip below standards then we have got Gary (Madine) and Richard waiting to come in and take their places. To be fair to Scott (Dobie) and Joe (Anyinsah) I thought they were terrific again today with the energy of Dobes and the toughness and the pace and power of Joe.

JP

What do you look to do this week with the players then with a whole week before your next match to keep the momentum from this game.

GA

We are going to keep the thing rolling and we are going to train well and we are going to train right. We do what we normally do, our preparation work is very good, Dennis (Booth) and Kav (Graham Kavanagh) and myself, we really enjoy putting sessions together for the boys and we work on things that we think we can improve on still from today. Then hopefully build up the momentum to go into a game next week and get another three points next week, and it has been a fantastic start to the season.

JP

Unbeaten in four now of course as well, up to ninth in the division and a clean sheet, it has got to be a pretty good night for you as a manager.

GA

We have had some tough times haven't we, and like I have said, I know what I am doing is on the right lines and we know as a group and a backroom staff what we are doing is right. We are building this club and hopefully going to build it bigger and better than it was and it took some sorting out. The times were tough, that day at Stockport when we had one point from ten games seems a long way off now.

But we have got a hell of a lot of hard work to do and we ain't resting on this and we are not going to start singing from the trees either. We know we have a lot of hard work and a lot of results to get under our belt before we can start even thinking about how much progress we have made, but we are on the right lines.




JP

I appreciate that you don't want to get too excited and that is the right thing to do, but when you look at John Barnes with Tranmere as a manager who is struggling to prove himself as a manager. You are starting to win over some fans who at times have been quite critical of you, is that satisfying for you and your team?

GA

Not really because I know what I have been doing is right. They have been tough times here and it not always the manager's fault when the team loses and it is not always the manager that deserves all the pats on the back when they are winning. But what we know is we are doing the right stuff, we have got a great dressing room, a magnificent dressing room. We have got a terrific group of players and that tells you that as a manager you are doing the right things.

Our work in the transfer market is not easy because we are up against people with more clout than us. But we are going in there, we are delving to find out players who are going to improve us, we are patient and I just think we are doing things right. If I have won over some fans, well great, that is brilliant, but I want to be popular, I want the fans to like me because if the fans are liking me then we are getting winning results, and that is the key to any football club.

JP

And we have got a rallying call here which I will read out a little bit later on BBC Radio Cumbria from David Allen the Chief Executive. What would you like to say to the fans now with a week to go to try to inspire them to come down?

GA

I want them to try to come and join the party. What we did say when I first took over is that we want to send people home with a smile on their face enjoying the football served up at Brunton Park. It hasn't always been fantastic enjoyment but at the minute we think we are getting better and stronger and we think the results are going to come. Come and join the party because it is good fun when you are winning.

JP

And just finally, on the injury front, any nicks and knocks today and might we see Tom Taiwo or even Richard Keogh for next weekend.

GA

I don't know yet is the answer to that. Richard probably definitely not and Tom has been down to Chelsea for their medical people to assess him, he will be back in on Monday and we will have a word with him then. Until he comes back I don't really know what the situation is.

JP

Anything picked up today though?

GA

Nothing today, we are fine.