|
JP
Do you have to pinch yourself at times? Coming from Workington Reds so recently and then playing at a ground like this and coming away victors and joint top of the league?
AC
It has been a brilliant day for me and the whole team, and everybody, all the fans that came down. The feeling in the dressing-room after the game was unbelievable, all the boys celebrating, and it has just been a real good day.
JP
Greg Abbott was suggesting that you were probably a bit bored at your end actually, because the ball didn't seem to come down there too often. A great display from the men in front of you?
AC
Outstanding, the back four and the lads in midfield protected me really well, and Craig (Curran) and Gaz (Gary Madine) worked extremely hard upfront you know. They put a lot of crosses in the box which we dealt with, but I don't think they had a shot on target in the whole game.
JP
A big concern I suppose from fans over the closed season was the amount of changes there were going to be in the back-line for Carlisle United. You look out there today and there were four new players there, but it just didn't look like it today?
AC
No, the boys have come in, even big Lubo (Lubomir Michalik) came in and he has just fitted straight in. We look a solid unit defensively at the minute, touch wood, so it is going really well.
JP
What are you players talking about amongst ourselves in your own time and your spare time when you are on this sort of a run? You now are joint top of League One.
AC
It gets mentioned but not really a lot, we are just looking forward to Brighton next week at home and hopefully the fans will turn out in their numbers and support us.
JP
But, you came out as well, and what action you did have was largely crosses for you to get behind, I think there was one fairly tame free-kick that you dealt with fine as well. But, coming out at key times and making the right decisions is something that will always give you confidence I suppose as a goalkeeper?
AC
Yeah, definitely, the manager (Greg Abbott) and Kav (Graham Kavanagh) want me to come and deal with crosses the best I can. Before Lubo came in we didn't really have much height in the team, so they have me asked me to do that and me and Caigy (Tony Caig) work on it most days of the week. So, it is something that especially with my height I am good at and hopefully I can keep doing it.
JP
How are you enjoying your own season here? You are the established number one at Carlisle United, how are you finding it this season?
AC
I am really enjoying it, I set my own standards, the manager obviously has his own standards that he wants me to keep to. But, I am probably my own worst critic and I push myself really hard and Caigy does as well, and we are working really well as a unit.
JP
There is always pressure on you as the first-choice goalkeeper for the club and I know Sir Bobby Robson as well said that you were going to have a future in the game even when you left it. I suppose these sorts of things do pile it on for you and you are just trying to live up to that promise yourself?
AC
Yeah, I want to play at the highest level I can, so the only way I can do that is to go out every week and put a performance in every week. If I do that then it is obviously beneficial for Carlisle as well.
JP
And just finally from a player's point of view, Greg Abbott is down there still talking to the press now, I am sure he will be in demand more and more as well the more of these results you guys get. But, how is the dynamic different with Graham Kavanagh coming in with him this season? How are you finding it?
AC
It is excellent, Kav takes a lot of the sessions now so he allows the gaffer to maybe stand back and take more of a view on things and a view on players as well. They do work well together on the training ground and obviously that helps with team spirit and everything we do on the training ground. People are enjoying the training this season, all the lads are out early and it is just a good place to be at the minute.
JP
I bet you are going to enjoy that bus trip back to Cumbria, just like those 2,000 fans as well?
AC
Well, it is just a short journey back really compared to a lot of them. So, we will enjoy it, and the fans were awesome today, 2,000 or 2,500 or whatever there were. They made a hell of a noise and they were excellent, and hopefully they will turn out next week against Brighton.