Colchester boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Essex and the Green 'Un ahead of his side's League One match against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow afternoon, Ward first looking back on the U's losing 5-1 at home to MK Dons last weekend :
“We have not had any massive inquests, I don’t have any massive praises or anything like that when we have won a game, like when we won at Crewe, so I am not going to go into deep discussion on the depths of a defeat at home. So, it is really what happens next and I think the players are pretty resilient, I think I am, and it is really pushing onto that next positive result, and that is the one we have got to try to get at Carlisle.
“I can’t forget about MK Dons, but you have got to try to put it away. I think the one thing that does put it out of your mind a little bit is when you come back to work. It was pretty quiet on Monday morning because I think a lot of people wonder what reaction I am going to have, and as the manager you are the guy who does set the mood. So, I think it was important that, whilst it was a pretty serious mood, that it wasn’t the end of the world, it is a football match after all and we have got another one to come and a lot more to come.
“So, it is very important that I don’t dwell on it for too long, we have looked at it and we have thought about it and we have talked about it, but in terms of dwelling on it we have got to push on and look for the next one. I have used other football clubs, I think even at the weekend I talked about Arsenal losing 8-2 and Manchester United losing 6-1, and even when you look at Crewe down there, we beat them 4-1 and then they went and won their next game away from home 2-1.
“So, there are really good examples there of people recovering, and when we have had a defeat in this season then the next result has been pretty positive generally, so we will be pushing on. Footballers are pretty resilient, they get their boots on and off they go again, there is always that next game on the horizon, and you would like it on the Tuesday when you have had a defeat on the Saturday, but it wasn’t to be."
“So we have got a heck of a long trip up to Carlisle and maybe quite a long time to have a few thoughts about what we are going to do and what happened last week. But, we need to try to put it right and that is the way we are. There are some good people at Carlisle that I will be happy to see and talk about one or two old times maybe, but they will want to beat me and I will want to beat them so there is always the bottom line of the game.
“I had 18 months there and we had some good times, we had a very good season, I think it was something like 15 straight home victories, which was fantastic and which they hadn’t done before, and we got in the play-offs which they hadn’t done for 30 years, and actually filled the ground once when we played Leeds United, which they hadn’t done for 30 years. So, those sorts of things stick in your mind and I am sure there will be a lot of people there that I will be pleased to see and hopefully they won’t mind me popping back in there.
“It can be a big club, it is on its own, it is isolated in terms of I think Newcastle is the nearest place and that is 60 or 70 miles away, so there is an isolation there. But, it can have that effect on people and it can be pretty lonely when you are not doing so well at times I guess, so it has that kind of thing but it is very well supported in terms of not massively, but the people there are extremely passionate and have done that over the years, and I am pretty sure they will be that way at the weekend.
“They are like us aren’t they, they are a similar size club to us, maybe get a thousand or so more on their home gates regularly, but they are a similar size club to us and a number of us in our division, where to compete with the Sheffields and even Preston, I know they are below us but the bigger boys in there, like Charlton, that get the double figures in crowds. It is really difficult for us to break in there but we keep trying, and Carlisle do exactly the same as us, they keep working hard to try to get into that frame around that top six the same as ourselves."
“So, it is a good game for us on Saturday, and for them, they will fancy three points and getting themselves a bit closer to the top six. But, we have got no fears of travelling away any more you know, last year was pretty dismal but the win at Preston lifted a lot of the stigma from last season, so this year we have been OK on our travels, although it is going to be our biggest test because it is the biggest travel we are going to have.
“Magnus (Okuonghae) is back and Magnus will play, he is a guy that we need in there. I have been pretty pleased with Tom Easton, he has come in and had two really difficult games, Sheffield Wednesday away and MK Dons at home. So, he will remember his two games for our football club, but there is a good future for the kid, he will be fine, but I can’t keep Magnus out of the side, he has got to come in and make it stronger.
“Instead of leaving Steven (Gillespie) at home, he will be able to come up and train with us. The encouragement of being on the coach with the first team squad again would be great for him, and to get him on the training pitch when we get to Penrith will be good. Getting him around the game on Saturday would also be a big boost for him.
“Steven could have played for the Reserves at Oxford on Tuesday night, but it was my decision for him not to. I wanted to keep him out. He will be fit and well for the Cup tie (against Swindon), but we may pop him on the bus to go to Carlisle. He needs a wee bit more time, but he is that close. I may or may not use him at the moment, that’s to be decided. It will be a real lift whatever. Steven is ready to have a go, and it’s just whether I am ready to give him a go.”