Bury boss Kevin Blackwell spoke to BBC Radio Manchester and his club's official website after his side's 1-1 draw against Carlisle at Gigg Lane, Blackwell pleased with the performance of his Shakers players:
"The lads were fantastic from start to finish, we just missed opportunities to kill the game off but other than that I thought it was a very good performance. Wholehearted, high energy, the players that came in really settled down quite quickly and today we have shown everybody that we can compete in this division. I think that was one of the things that we needed to get through to the players as quick as possible, we are good enough to be in this division, now we want to stay there.
"Always heartbreaking to concede as late as that, that's for sure, and in particular with a performance as good as it was. I think that was the only shot that Carlisle had on target all game. We should have and maybe could have finished off the game, we had three or four great chances, I think it was only 20 seconds earlier than that that Hops (Tom Hopper) was through one on one and the keeper (Mark Gillespie) has come out and put a big hand out and used his 6'4 frame to get the ball away.
"So, you feel for the players in that respect, but I said to them that they can go home tonight knowing that we can compete and if we do more games like that then we will win more games than we lose, that is for sure. I think we saw a 90 minute display today, nothing but praise for the players. Trevor Carson has not had a save to make until the goal. But, overall it was exactly what I was looking for, the players had belief in what they were doing and fate will certainly lend us a hand one day.
"The goal was just unfortunate really, at the end of the game you are going to give an opportunity to the opposition and it was the only chance they had. The lads deserved a little break and they didn't get it. We could have won maybe two or three games today, the chances that we had, the final ball a couple of times was maybe lacking, but we have seen a massive change in the performance of the players and to get out of the mess we are in the whole club and fans need to be together.
"We are a lot closer to where we want to be, we won every second ball, we got across the pitch and we closed people down. I thought Zac Thompson and (Steven) Schumacher today were excellent in the midfield, I thought they dominated it fairly well, Carlisle were just hanging on there, and to give them credit, and that is exactly what football is about, and sport. You have got to hang in there when things are going tough and you might get something out of it, and they got something out of it today. Rather unjustly for us but that is life."
"There are key ingredients you need in any team and I have been trying to get some energy and pace. So, a lot more pace today, we were a lot sharper all over the place, and if we keep doing that I will be very happy. We are seeing games now where we could and should have won really, but you have got to get into those positions to win games, and now we are in those positions and I think we are very close to winning games.
"We knew that at 1-0 the next goal was crucial, we think if we had got it we could have gone on, but to get hit in the 90th minute, the last two minutes in a game seem to hurt us all the time. But, today I think the fans were pleased, I mean they saw a game that was end to end, it was action packed, first-half in particular it was all one way, so if you see that every week you would say that that team can't be at the bottom of the league, but we are so we have got to make sure we get off it.
"I think we will keep the fans happy if we keep that up, I think the fans were happy, they were very disappointed for us I could tell, but they gave the lads a good ovation coming off. They knew they had seen a team that had given everything today and on another day could have won by three or four, and Carlisle's away record has been excellent as well so very pleased with the overall performance.
"It is my job to get the players playing again, but the lads know here, people have said that I am a little bit hard on them at times, but we are in a situation where if you are soft it won't pay any dividends. The lads have responded and Andy Bishop in particular I think has been outstanding, the last three games he has been arguably our best player. He has led the line and when you are a senior player, because we have got a lot of youngsters, we need the senior players to lead the line and that inspires the youngsters.
“Because, the youngsters will give us energy and legs but maybe not enough nous, so the senior players who won't have the energy and legs will give us the nous. Hopefully the two will marry together and you have got yourself a nice blend, but Bish has set the standards and now I am going to demand even more from him."