United manager Graham Kavanagh (GK) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 2-1 League One defeat away to Bristol City, Kavanagh disappointed with the Blues conceding from two set-pieces:
JP
It must be a bit heartbreaking there as well as you have played to come away with nothing out of the game?
GK
Yeah, disappointed for the lads really. I thought we contained them for long periods, two set-pieces in the end is what has troubled us and we have come away with no points, disappointing definitely.
JP
What did you think was the difference today because it seemed like it was not only a game that you were dominating, but it was there for the taking as well?
GK
Well, obviously we have got to defend better from set-pieces. I thought we were in control, I thought first-half we didn’t look like we were going to get caught at all, I felt quite secure in the shape, the way we passed it and moved it forward and we looked like we were going to create opportunities. But, as I say, we have come away with nothing so it is disappointing, a long journey home.
JP
Just a two minute spell in the game where it didn’t quite go right and the whole of the game ruined, that must be really hard to take?
GK
Well it is, you talk about the detail in the game and you talk about the players’ concentration levels that are needed at this level. We know that Bristol City have quality, we know they are not in a great position in the league but they have got players that can hurt you. We must switch on, we switch off in midfield, give a silly ball away when we are in very good control of the ball and we end up having to defend a corner that we didn’t need to. So, as I go back to saying again, it is the intelligence we need to play with and it is the concentration levels we need to have on a more consistent basis.
JP
Especially after the positive work and everything that had gone on in the week, is it disappointing that it comes down to conceding not as many as you are scoring again, which has been a problem this season?
GK
Yeah, it does yeah, but we have to just go again on Monday.
JP
You must be really happy with the impact though of one of your new lads from Manchester United, Charni Ekangamene. It was difficult in commentary having that name and it was difficult at times for Bristol City to handle him on the pitch?
GK
Yeah, he has got lots of energy, he is very workman-like, he has got quality as well, he gives us balance because he is left-footed. I am sure he will be a big favourite and he will only grow with that performance because it was a difficult game with the conditions and the pitch and very, very swirling winds. But, I thought that both teams handled it as well as they could have and, as I say, disappointed to come away with nothing, but there are lots of aspects of it that I am pleased with.
JP
A very different system than what we have seen from you for a while, lots of player almost floating around and in free roles, it was a joy to watch at times, how much work had gone into that?
GK
Not a great deal if I am being honest, we did a lot this morning in terms of we had a meeting. We lost Lee Miller, his girlfriend was pregnant and she had a baby yesterday, so it was going to be difficult for him coming up and I had to change the gameplan. So, we didn’t play with an orthodox centre-forward as we would have done, so we had to come up with a system that we felt would frustrate and cause them problems when we had possession of the ball.
I thought in the first-half we did that, but we need more quality in and around the group, we need a help and we need to get some bodies in. I had four kids today on the bench who were under 20, two of them were YTS lads, we couldn’t make up the 18th player because we didn’t have it. So, it is difficult at the minute but we go again Monday.
JP
And you are working I guess towards that emergency loan window when it opens, that opportunity to bring in and firm up that squad a little bit more then?
GK
Yeah, and obviously the players that we had unavailable today, the senior players who were missing. So, we have to readdress it next week, we have got to get players back fit, we have got to try to get some numbers and some bodies with some quality into the group and we have got to improve, no doubt about it.
JP
Just a handful of hours obviously since you got the two new lads in from Manchester United, are you really looking forward to them and are you hopeful about what they can bring to us?
GK
Yeah, I am, I mean as I say, because of the timeframe we had to work with them it wasn’t ideal. That being said we threw them in and they gave it their best shot, so there are lots of areas that we know when they understand out style a bit more, they will be more effective in the way we want to play. So, as I say, it will be a big week now this week leading into the Gillingham game. As I say, we will crack on, we can’t be disappointed, we need to wipe ourselves down and come back refreshed and energised and ready to go on Monday.
JP
What sort of player have we signed in Charni because he played about five roles as far as we could see in the game?
GK
He just played today on the left side of a three, we played a diamond. He switched and alternated between himself and Brad Potts and I was pretty comfortable. I thought James Berrett looked in control in the game, he was front screening and filling the hole in front of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, which I knew was going to be important.
I think he is anything he wants to be, if he turns up he can destroy any team in the league and he didn’t turn up in the first-half, the second-half he decided he fancied it and wanted to have a go. He got us on the back foot, got them up the pitch and I felt he was causing us problems.
JP
Were you hoping to do more business than you did on transfer deadline day? Were there more things that didn’t come off?
GK
No, not really. I would definitely like to do more business, I was looking to get a centre-half in but we couldn’t get the right one for the right money so it was difficult. But, again, we will have to get back to the drawing board in terms of recruitment and see where we go. But, we are going to have to improve.
JP
With the players that you have moved on, has it given you that little bit more space to manoeuvre within your budget in the squad?
GK
Yeah, I think it has yeah.
JP
So, you have got money available if the right player comes up?
GK
I think I have yeah, I think I just said that.
JP
In terms of home now, I guess you will be hoping now that fans will build on the MK Dons game and come back for you for Gillingham, because that is going to be crucial having those fans through the gate?
GK
Very much so yeah, very much so. I think our home form has been decent, we have had a good run at home. It is a game that we feel very much we can get something from and we will certainly be looking to get a win. So, yeah, it is important to get behind us again and we will hopefully give them a performance like we did against MK Dons.
JP
Michael Drennan, has he picked up an injury in there?
GK
No, I think it is just adrenaline and I think fatigue has set in because he has put so much pressure on himself, as you find with a lot of players who make their debuts. They sort of burn off that energy before and after a game, during games rather, he cramped up and I didn’t want it to affect him because I know he can be key for us. He will play an important role over the coming weeks.
JP
Just a three point gap now between you and the bottom four, it is a fight isn’t it to stay in the division, are you confident you have got enough in the squad and are you confident you have got the right players and the right characters in there to make that fight and to win that fight?
GK
Yeah, well we keep going every day, we keep trying to improve, that is all we can do. I will keep chipping away at the board to see if I can get some more money and bring some more quality in and we will see where it takes us. All that I am looking ahead to is the next day’s training and the next game. I am not going to look too far ahead, and as I say, disappointed today with losing but very pleased with lots of aspects of the game.