United man of the match Lee Miller (LM) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 4-1 League One victory at home to Leyton Orient, Miller saying it was a tremendous performance from the Blues :
JP
What does it feel like coming out of a game like that?
LM
Yeah, it is a great, a tremendous performance from the boys right from the first whistle, obviously scoring so early, it was just a sheer team performance, it was great to be involved in.
JP
You look very much like a player who is smiling even when you are not smiling if you see what I mean, when you are out there you are playing like you are enjoying yourself at the minute?
LM
Yeah, I am enjoying my football, obviously I wish I could get on the goal hunt, but hey ho, I feel as if I am contributing to the team and I am enjoying my football.
JP
You have allowed Francois (Zoko), especially with that assist against Sheffield United which was the definition of unselfish, you have allowed him to get level with you now?
LM
Yeah, it doesn't bother me things like that, Francois is on fire at the minute to be fair to him, I just thought he had a better goalscoring opportunity than I had to play him across. But, it is a team game, you have got to do what you have got to do for the team, as simple as that.
JP
You don't look like a striker who is struggling to score though, you just look like when the positions have come they are better for other people and you are laying them in and you are really linking up play and you are proving very popular with the fans, and I am sure your players at the moment with the goals you are helping them score?
LM
Yeah, I feel as if I am contributing to the team, I am enjoying playing there, I think a few of us are enjoying playing, we are getting the results, we are getting the performances on the pitch and it is good to be involved in. It is a good mix amongst the team.
JP
Up into the play-offs now, up into positive goal difference as well despite some of the early games in the season, what is the mood like in the dressing room?
LM
It is brilliant, buzzing after every game we have played in recently. Two away performances, really hard grounds to go to and we have come out with two points, which is great, and obviously two wins here has been tremendous. I think it gives the crowd a lift as well as the players and in the dressing room there is a tremendous atmosphere.
JP
Every team has this gripe and Carlisle fans more than the others feel that they have got it, that there is sometimes after the Lord Mayor's Show, a wonderful performance and win against Sheffield United, you get Leyton Orient here, maybe Carlisle might have slipped up in the past, how much had that been impressed on you going into the game?
LM
Yeah the gaffer (Greg Abbott) touched on it to be fair, this was probably going to be a harder game, not a harder game in a sense, but I just think we went about it in the right way and in the right manner and we showed our professionalism and we took the three points, and I think comfortably.
JP
You are a big tall man and you obviously get the ball down a long way up in the air and great with the head in the air, can you explain to me how Francois manages to trap it on his chest when it is coming in from nine feet?
LM
No idea, the kid has got talent, he is a really good player, good to play with upfront, he reads a lot of my flick-ons which makes it easier for me. But, I think throughout the whole team you could go through the back four, goalkeeper, everybody, we are playing to our strengths and we are doing really well.
JP
For fans like players, an exciting period the transfer windows in football, but worrying as well, especially when people are undoubtedly sniffing around clubs’ commodities, which of course you are one of the prime ones at the moment. What are your feelings on things? I mean having come in here from not quite getting the football you wanted at Middlesbrough, are you happy just to be with Carlisle United at the moment?
LM
Yeah, I am delighted, obviously like you say I am enjoying my football, really enjoying it, a good bunch of lads in there, honest working lads and I think we are all enjoying it. But, obviously there is going to be talk thrown about the place, so we just need to get on with it to be honest. Obviously, with our results recently there are going to be scouts here at the games and watching us, but we just need to fight for one and other and I think we have been doing that, and we have shown it through our performances?
JP
Something the fans have seized on in recent weeks after Rory’s injury is #promotionforloy Is that something that the players have been conscious of, maybe you want to give him the chance in the Championship next year?
LM
Definitely, Rory has been great for us this season, he has been tremendous, he is well liked throughout the whole team, he is a top boy and I am sure he will get back to full fitness. It is just at the end of the day, he is part of the team, he is part of our squad and we believe he can get back fit.
JP
Somebody who has been part of the squad for much of the season, now not with us, Liam Noble, how important could it be for Carlisle if they could get their hands on him longer term?
LM
Yeah, he has been great for us this season, he has popped up with a few goals and his out and out midfield play has been really good. But, at the end of the day we have got a good squad, a really good squad and a tight knit squad, I think that there are players that can come in and out of the team that can contribute to the team.
JP
Finally, going onto that subject of goals, of course you flew out of the traps and you flew into the lead, James Berrett is now on seven, Francois Zoko is up with you on nine, I mean is there a bit of a scrap going on between you guys for it?
LM
No, no, not at all, not at all, obviously you want to score as many goals as you can but contributing to the team and getting the three points is first and foremost.