John Ward On Another Home Win

Last updated : 03 February 2008 By Thetashkentterror

John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Saturday evening as he talked about the 2-1 win at Brunton Park against Walsall earlier in the afternoon, Ward discussing his decision to drop both full-backs, in Zigor Aranalde and David Raven, from the Carlisle starting line-up :


" The final verdict is the best one, the 2-1 win. That's a team that has just come up here with 17 games in this league undefeated behind them and you can see why. They are a good side, very well organised and they have got a threat, but we've matched up to that and we've managed to win the game against them as well. So it makes us a good side as well which I've always maintained anyway, that we get it right and we have to battle which we've done today.

" They certainly had a bright start to the second-half Walsall and we stood through that. Then we've probably got hold of the last 25 minutes where we've found our goal. Really, really pleased after the week that we've had and the considerations, obviously away from home we've got people having a grumble, which is fine, totally accepted and understood. We've bounced back though really strongly today and shown people that we are pretty good.

" He (Evan Horwood) had a little bit of cramp in the middle of the second-half but he has come through that. He's a young man that has got loads of energy and it's not far from his last game when he was up at Gretna, it's only a couple of weeks I think. It's different to Scott Dobie and Cleveland (Taylor) who have not played first-team for a little while. These guys get stronger though and it's good to see them come into the side and enjoy a victory.

" It was a tough game and probably a big decision by myself and the staff to make these changes in this sort of game but obviously we are pleased with the outcome. We were aware that the new lads might have heavy legs, (Paul) Arnison no because he has played regular football and been fine with everybody, he has not missed anything, so we were not worried about him. Dobie has got stronger as the weeks have gone on with his three games and three appearances for us, so we thought that he would get through it.

" Cleveland hadn't played for a while so perhaps Cleveland and Evan (Horwood) were the two that we were concerned about. Evan got stronger and showed a lot of ability on the ball but Cleveland we knew about. His game is dynamic from the wide right and he was just beginning to fade off that as we took him off. We were aware of that, the bench was selected to deal with that and we felt that we did it pretty well. "



" We came in at half-time and said that if we had been a goal in front then we'd have said pretty well played, the same again and if you can improve it then that would be terrific. The performance in general was decent, one mistake, we've let a ball bounce, we've probably lost the first header with two or three blue shirts around (Tommy) Mooney. Then Arnison let's it bounce when he probably needed to pick it up early and that's a test of everybody's character and belief and strength.

" Real credit to the boys, they came through that, no more than (Marc) Bridge-Wilkinson who had the penalty to put away. It was a big penalty, I sat next to Simon Smith our goalkeeping coach and said that if we score this then we can go on and win it and if we don't then it's going to be a long afternoon. Bridgey kept his cool and kept his professionalism and put it away neatly and tidily and gave us the foundation to go and get the win.

" He (Danny Graham) has just taken a round of applause from his team-mates in the dressing-room. We singled him out to say well done Danny you've stuck through thick and thin. I've made decisions that have taken him out of the side, put him back in, taken him out and those things as well. Training he has worked hard at, he's never let his head drop or belief drop and he's got his break today. Not only that but it is a winner in a record-breaking home victory, it's one that is going to stick there for a long time with him.

" We tried to put ourselves away from the other bit and pieces, I said to you in the week that if you had come off the moon and looked at our league table then you'd say that Carlisle are in a good position and they must be doing pretty well. Yet it didn't seem like it all week, there seemed to be that quietness about the place but today we've restored everything. Football is like that, sport is like that, you have your ups and downs and if you can deal with your downs as strongly as we do then it's good.

" Certainly in the time that I have been here this group of players have dealt with some of the downs and disappointments very, very positively and very firmly. We'll see if we can continue the way the season is going and see if we can have some success at the end of it. We certainly will be showing that character though, when our new players get their fitness and their strength then this is going to be a good squad. "



" I could have (Paul) Thirwell back in the reserves next week, and I've got people like Zigor (Aranalde) not with a shirt on today. They are good players as well, it's a strong group of people and I'm going to have some care to select the right teams for the right games and I'll get them right I hope. I think it is the first time they tell me that Zigor has been left out of the first-team and starting line-up.

" He has taken it exceptionally well, when we named the team yesterday and the substitutes today and Zigor wasn't in it, he went round the dressing-room wishing everybody good luck and shaking their hands. He has accepted that very professionally and very strongly, he's a had a bit of a tough time I think over the last three or four games. I've got young Evan in the football club and it was probably the right time just to make that alteration. Zigor is a good professional and he'll be there and he'll support and he'll bounce back I've no doubt, that will be a good competitive left-back position.

" It's the same with (David) Raven and Arnison, Arni has waited very patiently to get an opportunity in the first-team. He keeps his pecker up, he is terrific in the dressing-room, he's got a great sense of humour and as well as that he's a very lively character. David has also been a wee bit quiet, it was tricky making two full-back decisions in the same game but we felt that it was right and to be fair the boys have come through OK.

" The home form is keeping us in it to the point where we are in the play-off positions. I think the big thing is though, I've just said to the players, you are now the best home team that this club has ever had. You pulled out a record here today, it's a fantastic effort. I now we are going to get questioned every now and again when we don't play well and when we lose. I question it but at the same time I keep the belief and keep the faith.

" We said that our home record was under some threat and that their (Walsall's) general record was under some threat so something has got to give. Fortunately it went for us but it could have gone their way, things happen in a game of football that you can look at either side. It was a strong effort from us though after two defeats. I'm really pleased with, I don't know if you can call it the character, but the make up of my team that they are strong enough to deal with that.

" To be fair to the crowd today they were very strong, they knew it was a tough game, they knew that Walsall were a good side. Certainly the people around and about me, they vent their frustrations but they did support that team today and I'm really pleased for them and I thank them for that. I slept fantastically well last night after the transfer window closed, I picked my team for today, I had nothing to worry about and on Friday my phone never rang. "