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JP
You will no doubt be delighted with a 2-0 victory?
GA
We are pleased with the victory, we needed the victory didn't we, we have been looking for that for the last few games and we have found it. Off the back of a difficult weekend we have found a result and with the table being as tight as it is they are important, and we are sitting here reasonably pleased with ourselves.
JP
Looking at the way the table has lined up actually, a number of results going in, there was a hope actually that you might have made it up into the play-off places with victory tonight. It hasn't quite come off because so many other teams have been winning, but also you have not dropped away from those players moving and shaking in the play-off places, which is the value of the win tonight?
GA
Well, we were never going to lose any ground were we if we won games, that is the key. All we can do is win our games, I am not really too bothered about other teams and play-off positions at the moment. The season is not really about that, it is about getting a run of results and getting a confidence flowing through the team.
We have got a result tonight and at times late on in the game we made hard work of it, but we were comfortable for most of the game and that is probably why we didn't quite find the blistering form we have shown at times this season. But, sometimes you have got to win and the important thing is not how you do it, but the actual getting it and we have got it tonight.
JP
At times this season getting goals out of the chances has been something that your players have struggled to do. It was the other way round tonight, you had plenty of chances, Tranmere did as well but you took yours and they failed to?
GA
I think we were the better side through the game to be fair, and we think we should have wrapped the game up and we think we should have had a comfortable victory rather than one that at 2-0, one goal makes it a completely different picture. But, we have got the result and that is important for us.
JP
How happy were you with getting that goal so soon after the disappointment of missing a penalty as well, a really good response from your players?
GA
Yeah, I thought it was a fantastic goal, James Berrett we have been asking him to do that, get on the heels of the front players and get himself forward. He was unlucky not to score on Saturday, he has found the mark today. I thought he was terrific as well tonight and pleased for him because he works very, very hard. His distribution is excellent and his work ethic is exactly what we are looking for.
JP
Setting up that goal for him was Francois Zoko, Ben Marshall getting man of the match as well, they were your two changes, you must be chuffed with that as a manager?
GA
Yeah, you bring Francois in because you know what he can give you. We think Ben has been terrific in this last three to four weeks in terms of what we want from him. He has taken a while to understand, he is only 19, he is a baby, but he was excellent when he came on on Saturday, he deserved his chance after that and he has not let us down tonight, I thought he was terrific.
JP
What was your view on the two penalties? First one won by a former Carlisle man in John Welsh and then the one where Zoko was fouled, they both seemed a little bit soft in a way?
GA
I thought they were both very soft, but the referee (Eddie Ilderton) gives them and I just think he has come to make a mark and he has been the centre of the stage. I think the referee should look to be just on the edges of stuff, but I didn't think either was a penalty. I think he has given us ours because he has given theirs, but that is for the referee to explain and not me.
JP
Gary Madine's penalty miss in the end didn't cost you but what do you say to him now? Do you look at changing your penalty taker after something like that or do you stick with him?
GA
We will have a look at that. The worrying thing was that I think it affected Gary tonight. He didn't have time for it to affect him on Saturday, but I think after his penalty miss tonight it affected him. Players thrive on confidence and if it is going to affect him in that way then it is something you have to look at.
JP
Mally has been in touch to say that in spite of the miss he had a good game tonight. Certainly up until the penalty he was one of the better players on the pitch.
GA
Yeah, he was, but I think he let the penalty affect him today which is more of what I have got to look at than anything else.
JP
What about Danny Livesey? Not on the bench tonight, any reaction to his injury from the weekend?
GA
Yeah, a slight bit of a downside to the day, he has had a slight aggravation to the injury. It is not probably strong enough to get him into league action, so we are going to let him do some more strengthening work and hopefully have him back sooner rather than later.
JP
Any further news on James Chester's injury situation at the moment?
GA
He is back with us and he is going to train with us tomorrow, so that is excellent.
JP
So, has he got a chance for the weekend as things stand?
GA
Well, we will see how he trains tomorrow and then we will go from there.
JP
You know of course what an adventure it was for yourselves in all the cup competitions last year, in particular going to Everton in the FA Cup. It is going to be that sort of feature at the weekend for Tipton, what sort of a game are you expecting?
GA
Er, probably one that is much more difficult than tonight. They will be fighting for their lives, it is their cup final, they will be out to prove that they are as good as league players. There will be a big shock in the first round and we have got to make sure it is not us.
JP
The lowest placed team left in the competition as well, they really will be after that David v Goliath moment in the FA Cup. I don't suppose you need to impress on the players how important it is that they are on their mettle?
GA
No, we have started talking about it already and we said how big the week was before the game at Bristol. We had a meeting on Friday night and explained to everybody how big the week was if we could get a point against Bristol, or not get beaten, and then win tonight and then win on Saturday it is a really terrific week and it sets us up for a nice season to look forward to.
We are involved in stuff, we are in seventh or eighth position now, we are on the fringes of the top boys and we can progress in the cup and we look forward to the JPT game on Tuesday. If we can get through all those then it gives us something to look forward to, the season is very much alive.
JP
And just finally, the crowd a bit down tonight, 3,744, shocking weather and the first of four consecutive home matches as well, but the club have taken measures to bring the prices down for the weekend. It would be great to have a full house, not only for Carlisle United but also for Tipton?
GA
Yeah, we are just praying for the fans because it just helps everything move forward. We are looking to bring in good players all the time and improve the squad and without the backing of the numbers in attendance we really struggle.
But, listen, it was a horrible night and we can't do much more than what we are doing to be fair. Results and performances are pretty decent, we are in a really healthy position and we just appeal to them. But, you can't drag people to the games, it is an awful night and there must be something exciting happening in Coronation Street at the minute.