Neil McDonald On The Tranmere Win

Last updated : 22 October 2006 By Thetashkentterror

Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Saturday evening as he gave his opinion on the important 1-0 win at home to Tranmere Rovers. McDonald talking about injury news and the performance of new boy Kevin Harper :


"It seems a relief all the way around the ground. When you are on a little bit of a bad run then you are a little bit tentative and a little bit worried just incase you do make a bad pass or you make a mistake because it has been highlighted over the last four games. They showed a hell of a lot of character today and it was a thoroughly deserved victory for them and a clean sheet which is vitally important as well.

" He (Kevin Gall) seems to score these unbelievable goals doesn't he and long may it continue. The whole team has worked extremely hard though and that includes the new players that have come in as well, they contributed tremendously well as well. That just crowns off the week because we wanted to play off the front foot, we're not flowing, of course we're not, but the confidence will start flowing back after a good victory, and we look forward to the next game now.

" He (Kevin Harper) has only trained yesterday with the boys which is difficult for him and he hasn't played for Stoke's first-team for a while so he's a little bit rusty but he'll get stronger as he goes along. He showed a few good touches, we weren't flowing football-wise ourselves so he hasn't been involved as much as what I would like but at the same time he is part of the team that has won 1-0 and kept a clean sheet.

" I brought Chris Billy on because I just thought they were getting a little bit of the ball in the middle and defensively I wanted to go a bit more solid in the middle to force it wide. Then hopefully the one-against-ones with the full-backs we would deal with quite well, and we did. They are still full of confidence but when you are on a little bit of a downward run they are just asked a few questions, there were a few questions asked today and they have stood up and been counted.



" A week's rest is a good thing because it will give Kevin (Harper) a chance to get to know the boys so that he is better, and we're going to be working on forward play again this week. He (David Raven) is going to be training this week, on Arnie (Paul Arnison) we're not sure whether it's a pull but his hamstring is a little bit sore, so we'll have a look at that over the weekend.

" The latest with Paul Murray is that he's had an operation, he's torn his cartilage so that has been mended, we've looked at his knee and over the next six weeks he has going to be doing some rehabilitation. Then we'll take it on from there really, in the next six to eight weeks we'll see how the cartilage has settled down, then see if there is any reaction on his knee and then we'll take it from there.

" Karl (Hawley) has come back with a huge big smile, he's running around with some gloves and a hat on after being in Spain for a week which has done him the world of good, we'll just slowly build him up. It's a great day because I've always said that clean sheets win you games because we are creating chances, and luckily we've stuck one of the chances away.

" The crowd were great, they get behind us and they can try and see what we are doing, although they are obviously going to get a little bit frustrated when we are getting beat. If we all stay strong together though and believe in what we are doing then we'll be fine. That's what hopefully Carlisle is all about – staying together -  because the team is definitely together that's for sure. The crowd, as I keep saying on numerous occasions, are backing the team fantastically well, and it just shows when they don't go home, they wait until the players come off and that's a huge lift and huge compliment for the players and myself. "