John Ward On An Excellent Away Win

Last updated : 28 October 2007 By Thetashkentterror

John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey this evening after the fantastic 1-0 win at Southend that takes the Blues to the top of the League One table, Ward now looking forward to the big clash against Leeds at Brunton Park next week :


" They (Southend) are in terrific form, we got an excellent report on them last week at Walsall that they are one of the hardest working sides. We asked our team not to just match it, but to try to be better, we had to work exceptionally hard today to get any kind of result. To come away with a win though, defensively we were extremely strong.

" Keiren (Westwood), talking about goals keeping us in games, he has made one super top corner save. The rest of his afternoon though, I'm not saying it was routine but he has been dealing with crosses and things coming in and we've defended very well in front of Keiren.

" Determination and the will to win is what you have got to have week-in and week-out. We questioned them a little bit, we got a bit casual maybe at Yeovil when we went a goal up and I remarked then on the bench, here we are a goal up at this side today - what are we made of now?

" We showed that strength that we, probably complacency we had a little bit at Yeovil but there was none of that today. It was right on the button and I'm delighted with the work-rate of the team, it was fantastic. He (Zigor Aranalde) has got five stitches in a cut lip, it's at the top of his lip and they have put five stitches in it, it's improved his looks considerably. "



" They (the supporters) are fantastic and they've enjoyed a terrific win as well, Andy Horn said at half-time - win this and it's a shorter journey home. It's a funny thing to say and he is going to get reminded of it but those supporters will have a shorter journey home because of the win, they'll love it.

" A home tie is the reward for the 600-and odd that came here today as well. They've finished up with a really good day, a 1-0 win away at Southend, picking up the draw on the radio and seeing that that is a pretty good Saturday for us. We've got to now do it justice, I know Alan Buckley's (Grimsby manager) work-ethic as a football manager. He wants to pass and he wants to play so there is a good game of football in prospect, I'm sure that he'll be looking forward to it as well.

" People like (Peter) Clarke and (Adam) Barrett are seasoned professionals (at Southend) who know they have been in a good game and Joe (Garner) has given them that. I think that is a respect from both areas, that they have had a good fair game at it, they have asked for nothing and given nothing. The nice thing for us obviously is that Joe has come out on top with his goal.

" We said that Danny (Graham) and Joe would probably have to find one little area in a very tight game at the top of the league if they can open it up for us, and they managed to do it between them. So I'm really, really pleased with the work-rate of my front two, we said it last week when they didn't score and today they have combined to get the winner which is fantastic. "



" I think that it was a very fast and difficult game to come into, we'd put Paul Arnison on because of the injury to Ziggy which was fine, that had to be done. Then though you are looking at the other guys and you are thinking that they have all got jobs to do.

" We knew that Southend would be throwing the kitchen sink at us at the end and Danny and Joe were really important for that as well in our own penalty box. It always crosses your mind to bring a substitute on but I thought it was best to leave it all alone and let the boys finish the job, and they did.

" It does happen, when you have got nine goals like I think he (Danny Graham) has then he is going to miss some as well. I'd rather he be there and miss than not be around it, he'll probably wake up screaming at some stage tonight, tomorrow or Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday until he gets back on to his game next week. It was a wide open goal and it went past him, I think he looked and hoped that the linesman's flag was up and we don't think that it was, so it's a miss I'm afraid.

" It will be fantastic next week, and we can now look at it. I know that people have been chatting about it and queuing for tickets for the last week and more. We've tried to put it on the back-burner ourselves but we do go into it in a good position. If this result and recent results don't give us the confidence to take on an unbeaten team then nothing will. So it's really geared up for a fantastic afternoon, as close to a full house as I guess we are ever going to get and two vociferous groups of supporters. So on and off the pitch we have got a bit competition and we have got to try to win it.

" It's better being at the top of the league than where I came from, so I'm delighted to be there and I'll enjoy the moment myself. As you know though you have to crack on with the next bit but we can enjoy it for two or three days now, and then we'll work very hard towards Leeds United as the midweek and the end of the week comes along. "