United midfielder Jon-Paul McGovern (J-PM) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) following Carlisle's 4-2 FA Cup first round win at home to Ebbsfleet United, McGovern saying it was important for the Blues to get the win:
PN
Well done on the win today, how much of a relief was it to safely negotiate what always looked a really tricky tie today?
J-PM
Yeah, it was important for us to get the win, I don't think it mattered how the game went as long as we got a win at the end of it. We were professional enough, I thought we played some good stuff at the end and scored four good goals.
PN
It was quite tight wasn't it at times, certainly the first-half they gave as good as they got and they didn't disgrace themselves at all, they looked a pretty decent outfit?
J-PM
Yeah, definitely, I know a few of their players from playing in the league previously and they have got a good side and they try to get it down and play. I think obviously it is their cup final, for us it was very important for us to get a win as well, for us and for our fans, and give us a little bit of momentum going into the game on Tuesday.
PN
And scoring some goals as well, four goals today, that has got to be good for the confidence?
J-PM
Yeah, definitely, I don't think the confidence is really that low amongst the boys, we know we have got a good side, it has just not gone for us and we have just not performed on the day. We have been training really hard, the gaffer (Greg Abbott) has had us in doing 2 v 2s and a lot of defensive work, the whole team, not just the back four and the goalkeeper, so that was important. We have got four goals today and it was good team play.
PN
And four good quality goals as well today?
J-PM
Yeah, definitely, I thought Bez's (James Berrett's) strike was fantastic, he has been due a goal, I think for me obviously watching the last couple of weeks Nobs (Liam Noble) has kind of been close to scoring most games that I have watched, he has been probably our biggest threat in terms of midfield runs and getting in there. So, it is good for them to get goals and obviously Joe (Garner) getting a good goal from the corner.
PN
Don't want to concentrate on negatives but two goals conceded again, you are finding clean sheets hard to come by at the moment?
J-PM
Yeah, a little bit, I think as I say we are not firing on all cylinders so to speak, so we put ourselves under pressure in different situations, which I don't think we need to. But, at the same time you know we are scoring goals and as long as we are winning games it doesn't really matter. We attack as a team and defend as a team and everyone is to blame, I don't think it is a case of well the defenders aren't doing this or whatever else.
There have been a few left out today which will feel a bit unlucky, I think Ad (Adam Collin) has come in and done fantastic today, he came for everything, so that was good for him. But, Mark (Gillespie) has been brilliant in goals so far and he will feel a bit unlucky, but it is a team game, it is a squad game and we are all trying to do our bit when we play.
PN
Greg Abbott your manager spoke about there is an anxiety amongst the players which is being perhaps transferred from the terraces and maybe a bit of added pressure from the crowd coming onto the players at the moment, do you sense that?
J-PM
Yeah, I think there is, I think obviously the fans pay their money and it is a lot of money to come and watch, and they have got every right to say and come across how they like. Obviously, it is frustrating if we are not doing exactly what they are wanting, but I can assure you that we are training every day as hard as we can, we are working as hard as we can on trying to perform on a Saturday for ourselves and obviously for the fans.
We are all in it together at the end of the day, I think we try to win games for ourselves and we are trying to win games for the fans. We have got terrific support here and when they get behind us it definitely make a difference. I have come here with an away team and the fans can definitely get onto you and put the pressure on you, so we just hope we can get them on our side and give them something to shout about. Again, that is up to us to perform a little bit better on a Saturday.
PN
How good was it for you personally to get back involved after that brief lay-off through injury?
J-PM
Yes, it is really good to get back playing, I have had a full week's training now, it is the first time I have been pain free in four months, been able to get in and out of the car and stuff like that which you take for granted. It has just been great to work hard and really dig in and I have done a lot of work with Dolly (Neil Dalton) the physio, a bit of fitness work, and I have been doing some work with Kate (Gascoigne) as well. So, I have worked really hard on trying to get back and it is just nice to get on the green stuff and do my bit for the team.
PN
Yeah, your manager revealed yesterday, and this is perhaps something the fans might not be aware of, but all season you have been playing with a groin injury, just explain exactly the extent of that injury?
J-PM
It came at the tail end of last season and we thought the problem had gone away during the summer, rested up, did a little bit of work, came back and the first week of the season I was still struggling with it. So, I got a double hernia operation, I then got a burst blood vessel infection in it, I was taken to hospital and then I was back in again and got the infection taken out, a wick put in which I don't want to explain on the radio incase people are eating their dinner exactly what happens there with the different procedures.
But, I had a deep lying infection and got it taken out basically and antibiotics etc. It has been a long process, but again it is worth it when you are getting your 20 minutes today and you are doing a bit of running after the game and trying to put yourself forward for a starting place for the manager.
PN
Is that it pretty much sorted now, do you feel recovered and now it is just a case of building up your match fitness?
J-PM
Yeah, like I say, it is the first time I have been able to be pain free in four months. It is hard when you are trying to dig in and do fitness work and get fitter, I missed a pre-season which is important as any player will tell you, you are trying to do that and you are still feeling it. So, It is has been nice this week to really work hard with the boys, no pain and really dig in. As I say it is another week or two of proper running for me and no matter when the training is I need to run after. and I am at the swimming and I am at the gym, so I will be doing everything I can to try to put myself in the squad to help the manager and help the team out.
PN
Not much recovery time, a quick turnaround for Tuesday night, big game at Preston isn't it?
J-PM
Yeah, it is a big game, all the boys know what it means to the kind of locals and the fans and we know how much it means to ourselves. Like I say, the manager has really put a lot of pressure on us this week which has helped and been good for us. A lot of emphasis on defending and working hard and that will be very important come Tuesday, it is going to be a real tough game. I think they have got a good result again today so they have got a bit of momentum and we have certainly got something to prove, and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday.
PN
And before that of course you have got the draw to look forward to, second round draw tomorrow afternoon, ideally what kind of side would you like, would it be a home tie against a lower league or even a better team like a Sheffield United for instance?
J-PM
Well, I don't know, you are saying a much better team there, I think Sheffield United are in our league and we have given them a few good games last year.
PN
I meant better than a non-league team perhaps?
J-PM
Yeah, I don't really know, I think you take it as it comes when it comes out. It is always nice to get a home tie, hopefully we can give the fans something to shout about, I think you want to go as far as you can in the cup. I have been lucky enough to get into the third round etc. before and it is nice and it gets a buzz around the place and you get the bigger teams. So, it would be nice to get a home draw and go through.
PN
Well, when you look down the list of results today in the FA Cup and see some of the League One sides who have gone out, Hartlepool United, Colchester United, to lower league or non-league sides today, it reminds you that today was a professional job well done?
J-PM
I think it was, I think we knew coming into it we had to get a win. Like I said at the start, I think it is important to get a win for us no matter what the result, the last thing we wanted was a replay going down to there, it is a long journey for us and a long journey for the fans. So, it was important to get the win, which we did, and now we move on, and like I say, we take Tuesday and we come in and work hard and see what happens.