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" We've got to go toe-to-toe again on Saturday against Leeds and I think that's the key to these games. We write things on the board, we throw messages at the players and tell them to go for it and have no regrets. I certainly haven't got any over Tuesday, we are just disappointed that we didn't win but realistically it was hard to win the game.
" Both teams I think were accepting of a point at the end because it was that close and that tight I've just got to look and give my team credit for the way that they went about the game and stood up to the league leaders. I've said before, they are the best team and they showed in the second-half why they are the best team. We stood up to them and I think that was a real plus point for us to take to the next football match.
" I said to the team that Swansea were whooping it up a little bit in the corridor, not meaning anything to our dressing-room but they were obviously very close and we could hear it. Our lads just made a note of the fact that they think they've won it, and they might do, but we want to run them a bit closer if we can.
" It was big respect for us with the fact that here is the best team in our division coming up to Carlisle and jumping up in the air when they have got a point against us. So I think it shows how far we've come but it's important that we plant the feet back down and get our attitude right and go to Leeds on Saturday with the same approach.
" No new injuries and it's got better actually, Paul Thirlwell played an hour in the reserves at Tranmere on Wednesday, and Paul Reid played a full 90 minutes in that game with no repercussions. So good news really on that side that we've got a bit more fitness into those two lads, which I'm very pleased about. It strengthens the squad, and we've talked about Swansea and Leeds and Forest, they have all got bigger squads and bigger groups to choose from than we have here. We've gone with an unchanged side for quite some time, so those two lads coming back in at this stage is a real plus for me. "
" The level of the football has been good, we're in a good position, we've broken records as we've gone along, as you would do if you are having a successful season. This one is getting a bit closer, I understand that we need one more clean sheet to equal a record that has stood for the last 20-odd years, 1984 I think. So it's a big thing for the team, and Keiren (Westwood) takes massive pride in his clean sheets, as any goalkeeper does, so he'll be interested to get to know about that fact.
" Keiren has obviously been in really good form himself, but again, I think he'll be the first to accept that the boys in front of him have given him great protection over these matches this season. So all-round it's a pleasing fact to have, we like to score, we like to go forward, we've won 20-odd games in the league this season as well. To keep clean sheets is really important because if we can do that then we have the quality in the team to find a goal at the other end, and in a lot of games we've done that.
" Keeping a clean sheet on Saturday means that we get something out of the game, but we get tested week-in and week-out. They don't come any tougher than Forest, Swansea and Leeds in four games do they. I said to the boys though that it was a really tough game against Yeovil on Saturday. We mustn't lose the fact that just because Yeovil are not in that top six or seven like the other guys I've talked about that they are not a difficult team to beat.
" Those results and those games are very, very tough. We've got to go to Leeds against a team in good form at the minute, I fancy them to go into the play-offs and do very, very well. So we've got to try to make sure that we are not in there with them. I'm not sure why the question of our experience gets asked when we've gone 42 games and we're in the position that we are in. Because you can't get into this position unless you are mentally tough.
" I see these photographs outside my office every day I walk in with promotion winning teams, and a lot of the faces are familiar to me. They are in that dressing-room now, so they've gained promotions, they know what it needs to do to get to those games. We've had massive games this year and lots of things riding on lots of things, and we've lost games and we've been questioned, and we've bounced back. "
" The temperament of this group is not in question at all, the mental side of it is not in question at all. All I would say is that we've just got to try to be good enough in terms of our ability on the day, to beat Leeds United or anyone else. In the main this season we've done quite well at that as well, so I've no problem with this team, they'll be well prepared. It's just telling them that it's Leeds United away, Elland Road, 30,000 people, come on boys, let's go and see if we can get another result that maybe surprises one or two people.
" It's terrific, I'm an old stager and I'm excited about this game, like I was against Swansea etc. There is an extra edge to these sort of games, and, no disrespect to other teams in our league, but these are massive games. Where else are we going to get 30,000 people watching Carlisle play?, so go and make the most of it boys, have no regrets and see what we can come back with.
" It's in our hands basically isn't it, if we can win two or three out of the last four games we're up there and that's fact. I can't hide that now, I've been putting you off in the last few weeks but that's where it is. Every game is going to be bigger and tougher and harder if you like, however you want to describe it to me. Other teams, you expect them to win, and the sort of things you are looking at, you look at all the permutations, but the fact is that if we can win, even two wins and a draw out of our last four games then we're in this top position. So that's what we've got to try to do at the very least.
" I'm sure our fans will make themselves heard at Leeds, particularly if the team does well for them. If the game is tight, close, 0-0 after half an hour and 28,000 people are grumbling at their home team because they are not doing it right. Or even, dare I think it, we are a goal ahead, then those 1,700 people will get heard, don't you worry about it.
" I've seen these Carlisle away people support this team at Southend when I first came, I've seen them in their numbers at Leyton Orient. I've seen them have a grumble at Oldham, but I keep seeing them coming, and they'll be like me, looking forward to going to Leeds and seeing if our team can stand up like we did on Tuesday and give an account of themselves. If both the 1,700 and the team can do it together then who knows, we all might come home happy. "
" I've no idea if it will be an advantage knowing Doncaster's result. They've got to win, they can't afford to drop points against Swindon so I really don't know how it will pan out. All I know is that I'll have a glass of wine rather than a worry about it and see if I can get ready for the Saturday and my game.
" If Doncaster drop points then that's a bonus, if they don't then fine, we are still going to be in second place whatever happens on Saturday, but it depends then on the mentality of everybody I suppose, just dealing with other people's results. They don't interest me to that point because I can't do anything about it, we'll just concentrate on ours and see what Doncaster do.
" Neil (McDonald) did a super job here you know. I've inherited a team that Neil put together, I've brought four or five faces in myself, and Greg (Abbott) took over at the early part of this season. So it's been a continuation for me, it's not a question of this and that and other things, it's a continuation of what we are trying to do.
" We've added quite well I think in the period that I have been here but there are a lot of good players that were here when I took over. That's got to give credit to Neil and Greg particularly, so fine. I'll look forward to seeing him and I hope that he looks forward to seeing people from this club, because I don't know Neil particularly well. He's obviously got people here that he is friendly with and I hope that the day goes like that.
" An early kick-off does make a difference because you have got to start your pre-match meal at about nine in the morning. Normally players will be having pasta and chicken, I'm not sure that is going to work at 9 o'clock. It's just getting that side of your stuff right, so our preparation is altered slightly, but we know that and we'll be talking to the players about that.
" Even the day and the night before will be slightly different to how we get ourselves ready for it, so it does alter things. Footballers being footballers though, when they go out there at whenever it is, 12.10pm. That time seems a strange thing to say, but when they do it won't matter what time of day or night it is, they'll play and do the best that they can. "