Dennis Booth On The MK Dons Victory

Last updated : 14 February 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Dennis Booth
United assistant manager Dennis Booth (DB) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's thumping 5-0 League One win at home to MK Dons, Booth pleased that the Blues moved on from a two goal lead this week :


JP

Just try and explain to me what just happened out there?

DB

It was a very good performance, we were concerned at half-time, again we got a two goal lead which we had when we played here against Orient and you know very well that we conceded two goals then and possibly could have lost the game. So we just instilled it to the lads that we must stop conceding silly goals and do it that way.

It was important that we got the third goal and then you can breathe a little bit more easily. But after that, once we got the third goal, we ran riot a little bit and the goals, every time we attacked it seemed like we were going to score a goal. 5-0 is a great result for us but it is only three points, we are not getting carried away.

We are pleased with it obviously but we put the Wembley trip to one side, which we told the lads that has gone, it has been a fantastic result but we need to get up this table and see how far we can get up there.

That is what we did to the lads and credit to them, they have concentrated very well because you can always have an after the Lord Mayor's Show and get carried away with it. But they kept their feet on the ground, got the three points, it is over and dusted now, we rest up and it is Huddersfield Town and another difficult game on Tuesday.

JP

Have MK Dons in a way borne the brunt of the lads' frustration? Because you have had a few 2-0 goals going into the second-half and when they got that third goal it was almost like they breathed a sigh of relief and just played with gay abandon, and they just tore MK Dons apart in the end.

DB

Yeah, probably it was that but I don't know. Two goals is a strange lead because if you concede a goal you are 2-1 and then you start to panic a little bit and there is no need to. But that is what we have been doing, but once the third one went in you feel more comfortable.

Then the lads went on and possibly had chances to score more goals. But at the end of the day you get your three points and we won't be carried away by it. It is a great result, pleased for the fans, they turned out again for us and we march on.





JP

And a clean sheet as well, how pleasing is that for you from your more I guess defensive side of things?

DB

If you don't concede goals you are not going to lose many games are you? At the top end today we looked very dangerous right from the off, (Scott) Dobie, (Darryl) Duffy, Joe (Anyinsah) when he came on looked dangerous. The two wide men, particularly Matty (Robson), all afternoon they looked dangerous and we looked like we could score goals, which is good for us.

JP

And Peter Murphy had to come in for Evan Horwood who was injured, you can see why he is such a fans favourite. Such a solid display after so long out of the team from him.

DB

Peter looks after himself all the time, he is always ready to play. He came on last Saturday at Huddersfield and I thought he was exceptional coming on at half-time, slotted in there at centre-half. The reason he does that is because he looks after himself, he is always ready to play, he doesn't have time off and start sulking.

He is ready and he has proved that again today, with keeping his fitness levels up and having no problem coming in in that position. That is what we need, we have got a small squad, we are going to need people, we need everybody down in that dressing room. We have said that, we are in it together, we are all in it together, it is not just the eleven, it is all the eighteen or whatever.





JP

Going into this game the theme on BBC Radio Cumbria was Carlisle United have nine games between now and Wembley and they need to make sure they get important results out of those games and they don't suddenly get to Wembley in a real relegation scrap. What a start this is, it couldn't have been any better?

DB

It couldn't have been any better but Wembley is an icing on the cake for the football club, for the players as well and for myself and the management team. Because it is not very often you get the chance to go to Wembley, I am getting on a little bit now so it might be my last chance. So that is a great thing for the football club and a bit of money.

But the bread and butter is Saturday afternoons and that is what the management stressed to the players today. Yes, great, we enjoyed the other night but this is important now, as is Huddersfield, and we need to get points on the board and get away from there.

So when we go to Wembley we can do it hopefully in a safe position or who knows? We keep pushing, we keep pushing as much as we can, as I said a few weeks ago, we are trying to get up the table and get in and around that sixth spot. I know we are a long way off but we are concentrating every game and then see where it takes us.

JP

We talked in commentary today about how sorry we felt for the fans who were here on Tuesday but had decided not to come back today and have missed what a great game this was today. Do you hope that you will now get some more of them back through for you against Huddersfield?

DB

Well you hope so but things are tight at the moment. Supporters, it is difficult, they probably don't have the money and the cash to come week in and week out. There has been a recession on and a lot of people are struggling.

So we can't blame the fans but hopefully those who have stayed at home because they can't afford to come, we have given them something to cheer them up about. Yes, obviously we would like a few more people to come but money is tight, they have families and little kiddies, so even if they have not been here today I am sure they will have a good Saturday night.





JP

It was an excellent match last weekend at the Galpharm against Huddersfield, of course they are your visitors on Tuesday. It should prove a very intriguing game, especially after you have just beaten a promotion hopeful here today so convincingly?

DB

Yeah, but not that is not the case always. You have had a great game today with lots of goals, we have got to be solid, we can't get carried away, it is a tough game. Huddersfield are a good side, they have been up there all season and that is the way we will treat it.

You can't get carried away in this game because it kicks you in the teeth. We will come out here, we will try to do the same things that we normally do and if we play as well as we can then we will probably get something out of the game, but it is a difficult game for us.

JP

What did you make of Darryl Duffy, your new signing's home debut?

DB

He is a goalscorer, we know about that, I have seen him play for Hull City, I have seen him play for Bristol Rovers. He has done quite well, he did well last Saturday and didn't score but it is difficult for a striker coming into a new club.

But he has popped his goal in today, I didn't actually see it, there were people in front of me, I thought it was an own goal but somebody said to me that it was a typical striker's goal where he has got across the front. So he is a good acquisition and we have got a few options up there now.





JP

Scott Dobie scored, Joe Anyinsah came on and scored within a minute of coming on. All of a sudden do you as a management team start saying where are all these fans saying that we needed a striker?

DB

Well we have got a striker and we have got two more. I thought Dobie did fantastically the other night against Leeds on his own upfront against two very good players. Today we started a little slowly I thought, we started a little bit slowly, whether we were a little bit leggy or whatever.

But once we got in our stride and we got the goal we thought we looked good. We have also got the threat from Hartey, he just can't stop scoring from free-kicks and corners. He is fantastic, not the biggest but one of the best I have seen in the air at timing and heading the ball and he is a threat. So we are happy but don't get carried away, it is just one game we have won.

JP

Any injury concerns arising from this one as far as you know?

DB

No, just one or two knocks, with precautions we took players off. Robbo was a bit tired which you can understand the running he has done down that left flank. I think Clayts (Adam Clayton) had a little bit of a bang on his ankle but he is OK.

So it was just to freshen things up, because we haven't got a big squad and we can't change six or seven players. We are a group, we are going to try to do that and all the lads will be involved all the way through the season. There is no doubt about that because we have got lots of games coming up, it is a busy time but that is what you want.





JP

Is Greg Abbott lying down in the changing room with a wet tea towel on his head trying to get over this?

DB

No, no, just professional like myself, yes we have enjoyed it but it is only three points. You don't get carried away in this game, I have learned that before. We are ever so pleased for everybody connected with the football club. But you don't get carried away and he won't get carried away either.

JP

What do you now say to your players ahead of a game like Tuesday? Big game against Huddersfield, good side, but how do you get them down to earth or do you get them down to earth?

DB

We carry on, we keep the atmosphere as it is. We rest them, we work them, we will go through the same preparation as we normally do. We will pick the team out that is going to play, we will explain about the set-plays, all the things we do. Nothing will change, we will stress that they are a good side, they are up there for a reason because they are a good side.

But if we can get our performance right we know we are as good as anything in the league on the day. Which we have proved before, we have beaten some good sides here, some of the top sides, but unfortunately we have come unstuck sometimes against, as people say, lower teams. So we need to get that consistency and at the moment we are playing quite well I think.