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JP
You must be delighted with your team's start?
PT
Yeah, I am very delighted. I think we set our stall out right from the first minute today in the way we went about it. We started the game well, got about them and managed to break on them quickly and create a lot of chances early doors. The only disappointment at half-time was the fact that we were only 2-0 up, I think it could have been four or five.
I think we have been in that position a couple of times last season where we have been a couple of goals up and come out and have maybe been a bit sluggish at the beginning of the second-half. But, I think they maybe had five or ten minutes here or there throughout the game, but I felt we dominated from start to finish.
JP
Was that one of the most pleasing things? Because Brentford in their defence came out and had a real go at the start of the second-half, but they couldn't break you down, is that the thing that pleases you most?
PT
Yeah, well you would expect that because in the first-half to be fair to us they weren't in the game. So, we said they would get a bit of a bollocking at half-time maybe and come out and have a go and they did that for five or ten minutes.
JP
In terms of that first 25 minutes, I said to Greg Abbott that it did appear that you had outfoxed them as a team with the tactics. They didn't seem to be able to handle the diamond that you have been working on in pre-season, it took them a while to accustomise to that?
PT
Yeah, to be fair, the staff, the gaffer, Graham Kavanagh, we have worked hard on it. We have worked it down the middle area of the pitch and we can play various formations but we just felt that today that that was going to be right, and thankfully it worked out that way. We are no magicians, somedays it will work and somedays it won't, but thankfully today it has.
JP
You have been a new face at a few clubs yourself, with so many new faces in this Carlisle line-up, how easy or difficult was it to get together and play as such a team this afternoon?
PT
Well, it was easy in the sense that we have worked on it. The gaffer and Kav, they want everyone to know, however many is in the squad, 18 or 20, if that if and when they do play they know exactly how we are going to play. I think that showed today with the new signings that they have come in and slotted in as if they have been here for years.
JP
Greg Abbot said in the build up to today's game that there would be ten players who were disappointed not to be in the starting eleven for Carlisle United. I guess you are involved as well as the captain of the team in making sure their spirits stay up, and I guess they feel that they are involved in what will be a squad season?
PT
Yeah, we will have and I think this league shows that you are going to have injuries, you are going to have suspensions and everybody is going to play their part. Yes there were disappointed lads but those disappointed today will be the lads that are excited on another day and they will be in the team. To be fair, we have got a great set of lads here so they know that their chance will come.
JP
There are free-scoring sides in this division, there are teams who will get plenty of goals. Next up for you is a free-spending team in Huddersfield who really have over the last couple of years, they have pushed out the boat in terms of the players they have brought in. That will be a tough test for you if you are maybe going to get to that third round and a big side once again in one of the big cup competitions?
PT
Yeah, they are going to be favourites, they are going to be favourites certainly to be in the top six if not automatic promotion, and they are going to be favourites on Tuesday night I would imagine. They have had a good 3-0 win at Notts County today but if we put on another show like we have today then is there no reason why we can't give them a competitive game and hopefully come out on the right side of a win.
JP
What have you made of the new players who have come in, having your first taste of competitive action with most of them today?
PT
They have done great yeah, I thought James was excellent at centre-half, Craig (Curran) would be happy to still be out there running now if you gave him the chance, and Francois (Zoko) will understand English when he wants to.
But, he has done ever so well, I think he ran himself into the ground after however long he played, 70 or 75 minutes. You have then got a great replacement in Bridgey (Marc Bridge-Wilkinson) to come on and play in that role because he is a clever player as well.
JP
With Zoko, the unpredictability of him, it will take all of you I am sure a while to get used to exactly what he is going to do. But, if you then think about opposition defences then he starts to look like a bit of a weapon doesn't he?
PT
Yeah, exactly, the idea of today was to get him in the hole behind the front two, and then basically go and do what he wants to do. Because sometimes we don't know what he is going to do so defenders don't have much chance either. But, he got in some good areas and he will only improve with time, and it is an exciting prospect.
JP
And 12 months on from last season and an opening day defeat against these, sweet revenge?
PT
Yeah, I would be lying if I said it wasn't, it was a bit a part of the team-talk where we were all full of optimism this time last year and it sort of bust our bubble a little bit. So, we wanted to make sure we got off to a good start, but, like in defeat it is not the end of the world and with one win we are not getting excited. So, roll on and we look forward to Tuesday night and hopefully putting on the same performance.
JP
And finally, the holding midfield role for you today, and man of the match, you will be delighted with both of those?
PT
Yeah, really good, it is dedicated to the team effort I think because that is what it was. I don't think we necessarily had one individual who was out there on their own today and long may that continue because it will only bode for positive results.