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" I think we tired at the end of it a little bit simply because we ran out of a bit of steam with the extra man, they used it well. We lifted the game, we were going on to win it, 1-1, 11 v 11, we did miss the opportunity in the first-half, we didn't perform, too many people were quiet. The change helped that I think and the half-time regroup was needed, whether it was the change or just that. I think I said after the game that I needed 20 minutes to take time out and say that even if I left the team as it was it just needed to be better.
" We shook it up a bit though, so I think that it was a combination of a few things, the first being the no show in the first-half. Then the last ten minutes we just came under the cosh and we couldn't hold out, which is a shame because when you look back at it now a 1-1 draw would have been a good result for us. That's life though and we have to deal with it, and we'll push on this weekend.
" We're going to withdraw the appeal on David Raven's red card. We've looked at it very carefully and spoken to David Raven at length as well. The ruling says that we have to prove conclusively that the referee (Anthony Taylor) has made a serious mistake, and we don't feel that we can. We think that it is a harsh decision but as a serious mistake, no, it will be seen as a decision that the referee has seen it that way and decided that it is a red card.
" The problem we face is that if we push that through and we don't get the result that we would like then David could get an extra game. So reluctantly we have withdrawn the appeal because we don't want to get a fourth game for David Raven. So we're a bit harshly done by but I can see where the referee has thought that might be a dangerous tackle. We hope that he is suspended for the first game of next year, which I'm sure that David would go along with as well. "
" He (Paul Reid) won't play on Saturday, he's got damaged ankle ligaments. We're putting off the decision against Bournemouth if you like, but at this moment I'd say that he is probably doubtful for that because that can be a two or three week job. Neil (Dalton) is working very hard with him though and Paul wants to give himself the chance, so I'll allow that to happen.
" I can tell you now that Paul Arnison will deputise for Raven because there is no point in messing about with other people. It's round pegs in round holes, Paul Arnison deserves to play basically, he has been waiting very patiently, he's been on that substitutes bench, he's been off it. He's been messed around in that way, on and off and in and out and what have you, but he's been absolutely spot on as a professional footballer and a person. He deserves a chance to come and play now, he'll be disappointed that David is missing out because of the way that it happened but he'll have his sleeves up and he'll give his lot now, and that's something that I can guarantee.
" Someone told me in the week that Carlisle don't do it the easy way but I haven't been here that long. I've got a bit of a career like that myself where you are hanging in there and doing things and last-minute stuff. I suppose when you have done it as long as Carlisle have and I have though then you have got those stories to tell. We'd have liked it to have been wrapped up, but football is not that comfortable.
" Even for Swansea, I think that they have only had one win in the last eight or nine games and couldn't win on Saturday, so it was a bit hollow celebrating their promotion. So I think it is all the way through football that you have to got to just dig in when the times are tough. We've had some tough times, performances have not been terrific, we've had a few 50-50s not given for us, decisions not happened our way, things not dropped quite the way we would have liked them. "
" It's the game though and you have got to make those things happen, and it's remaining as strong and as tough mentally as well as physically as you can. We've got two more football matches to try to get the wins that we went, we know that if we can win them both then that will get us there without looking at any other results, without looking for any help. If we need a bit of help then I hope I get it but we don't want to do that.
" I think you were talking about wobbles earlier on in the season when we couldn't win away from home, everything was won at home. We'd had the Christmas time at Bristol Rovers, Oldham, two really poor ones, and we've not been in that vein, in that sort of shape of performance. They have just been below-par, those two were pretty poor and pretty awful but generally we have been really close in games and needed a break somewhere, and haven't got it. When we were winning through February and March and winning games then breaks were going our way.
" Things were dropping nicely, we were winning 1-0s, we were coming back after losing games and stuff like that. The game doesn't always run as smoothly as you'd like so you have to be strong, and that's what I'm saying. We have to go into Millwall being strong, we are capable of playing some good football. It is a good arena down at Millwall, it is a tough game, of course it is, but it's a good place to go and play. If we are going to resurrect the form then now is a good time to do it and a good place to be.
" We are still talking to Keiren (Westwood) about his contract. That has already started and conversations are going on, but Keiren is the same as everybody else. You just want to get this situation resolved first. He's excellent, he's playing very well, and he's like me and everybody concerned with the club, let's get this resolved and then we can deal with it in more detail, but we are chatting yes. "