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" It was a big result on Saturday, we said at the end that the significance of winning or losing that game was a lot of points. We have given ourselves a real chance now certainly of closing up on people in and around us and getting a bit of a gap from people below us. It's important though that we've got one or two games in hand over different clubs and it's important that we make them count now.
" We've done some of the hard work here against some very good teams in good form, Doncaster Rovers, Walsall and Huddersfield came here in real good form when they visited Brunton Park and we've won those games. It's really vital now that we really attack this last part of the season with as much vigour as we can and points away from home are very important as well obviously.
" We asked him (Joe Garner) to do a slightly different job for the team, we were obviously without Chris Lumsdon and Paul Thirlwell missed out from Thursday morning. So it was a late decision if you like in terms of what we were going to do. The back-room staff came up trumps as well with their ideas and opinions and then of course we can't be successful unless the team put it into action.
" I'm really pleased that the players showed good discipline and organisation to do the jobs that they were asked. Joe in particular, it was slightly different for him, where he is not going to get a lot of recognition for that but he did a good job for the team and we are grateful to him.
" I've known Grant (Smith) for some time, it's a new one for a lot of people here obviously but he's really shown up some good football here in training and the reserve games that he has played. I've known him prior to that and I was really pleased with his debut, it's always nice to, when you have put your trust in a player, that he comes in and does well for you. So I'm delighted for him and really pleased for the club. "
" He's Scottish born so he's not that far away from home here, he's been playing his last bit of football across in Scandinavia. He goes and plays where he can and loves his football but I think it is always nice for a player if he can settle somewhere and get on with it. He's just had the one game in our first team so we might be a wee premature in that but there are certainly good signs for him.
" He's right in there with them (Chris Lumsdon and Paul Thirlwell), there is no pecking order I don't think now. I think there probably was before that because the guys had done very well in front of Grant. The pecking order just alters and changes though and I think that there is a good level of competition. It's not as if any of them are young up-and-coming players backing people up, they are all in there fighting for the same position and they recognise that. They know that and if that is something that keeps them on their toes then that for me is good news.
" Tuesday is a massive game, I think we are going to keep talking like this as we move along, you'll get into March and April and you'll be telling me that the next one is a massive game. You'd be quite right though as they are and it's how we approach it that counts. I'm pleased with the way that we have approached a lot of the games so far. We've hit some big fixtures, not least Saturday against Doncaster and the approach of the team has been first class. So that side of it, I'm not saying we take it for granted but we do demand more of it and we have to take that into Crewe.
" We can go second if we win it and everyone will be aware of those things now. I don't think that frightens the players, we have been in these positions where we have talked about six pointers and all those types of cliches that crop up. This is another big game and it would be nice to wake up on Wednesday morning sitting in second place.
" Crewe have picked up good form recently though, they have just drawn at Leeds United, they drew at home to Swansea, they have got some good form. They are better than when they played here, they were a bit disappointing here I think and they will want to prove a point to us when we get back down there on Tuesday. "
" You want to be in the big games, I was reasonably comfortable at Cheltenham in terms of the position that I was in and people asked why I wanted to go to Carlisle and this is the answer, this is it. I want to come and work at this end of the table and see if we can push it forward. Take on these sorts of games and put this club and this team now forward into those positions and we've got that opportunity.
" I just keep saying to everybody, particularly the players, we mustn't sit back in May and have any regrets about anything. We give it a really good go and we wake up relishing these games and so far they have done that. If they continue to do that who knows how it will finish, I don't, but I know it will finish better than if we go shy of it and it's important that we don't do that.
" We're not going overnight, we're not going down for beds in the afternoon. We are going down for me in a business like manner. We are going to go down early afternoon, have the pre-match and go and play the game, and I think that's the business side of it. The boys can sleep in their own beds and get their own preparations here in the morning and then when midday hits you you are in for the game, that's when it comes on. We did that once or twice before, I don't see the need to spend time hanging around in hotels now, I think we go and get in and get to business. That's the approach that we'll be trying to take for this one.
" I'm not thinking of bringing anyone in at the moment, the squad is OK and we have just got one or two little niggly injuries, but nothing worse than that at the minute to decimate it. So to bring people in, they have got to be better than what I have and we've got to have a reason for doing it. Sometimes you can do that and it causes some disruption because you either feel that you have got to play them or the players wants to play. At the moment this group is pretty settled though, if I need to then I can do and I will do but at the moment I don't feel that need.
" We brought four new faces in in January you see and that is quite a number for any football club, let alone one of our size. So we've done that but it doesn't mean that we are sitting back on our laurels and saying that everything is OK. My scouting system is working so much in that if you look on the table to your right now there is a red folder there with names and numbers, and players and managers in there. If I need to pick that up and say that I need this tomorrow then I have got it, I've got it at my fingertips so my scouting system is working in that respect, if we need to run into something quickly then I have got that at my fingertips.
" I saw Kevin Gall's photograph in the paper at the weekend so he played for Darlington. I haven't heard from Dave Penney the manager, I'm sure that he'll let me know if he wants to extend it or if he doesn't but that's their prerogative and not mine at the moment. I'm OK though, I'll listen if they want to extend it, I'll listen to the reasons and if it's right for us then we'll do it and if it's not right for us then I won't. "
" Dan Kirkup is going to be made available, I spoke to Danny at the end of last week. He came back from Clyde as you know, I've had a look at him from January onwards and we feel that we can offer him something elsewhere and it is not going to be possible for it to happen here.
" I do look at the league tables on a Sunday, Sunday is my best day, Saturday night I'm still coming down if you like from the game as I'm sure it is for a lot of the players and maybe supporters as well. Sunday morning is nice though, you can sit in your own room with your own newspaper and your cup of tea and say that that isn't bad. Or on the bad days then you don't want to look at it, but you know what I mean, it's a calming down day.
" Fortunately this one we haven't got long to sit and pat ourselves on the back. We've got to be up this morning, out on the training ground and I've got to be picking another team to go out and try to win at Crewe Alexandra. That's the name of the game though, but Sunday was nice.
" I think the players will enjoy playing Saturday then Tuesday, we've got to be spot on, as I keep saying, about the back-room staff. They are very important to me now as to giving me information and advice and what their opinions are about training. What we do when we are in and what we don't do when we are not in and things like that. Some players will need different things so there are some individual things that will need to be looked after as well.
" Certainly though the players will enjoy playing and playing and playing, they'll see that as a nice bonus of course as long as they don't get injured or they have time to recover quickly. All through this football club now the football section has got a lot of hard work to do over the next ten weeks but it's something to look forward to and to relish.
" Nottingham Forest isn't rearranged yet, we offered one day and Nottingham Forest were offering a second date to us which doesn't suit us. We are just seeing where that finishes off at the moment. I suppose it may make a difference psychologically playing them twice in quick succession if you win the first one, I don't know. If you have lost the first one then it maybe doubles up your efforts to win the second one, I don't know. You know that you have got to play each other and each game is different as you well know. It can be different team selections or whatever, decisions, things happen, I'm not really sure it matters how soon you play each other. "