United assistant manager Graham Kavanagh (GK) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 2-2 League One draw at home to Wycombe, Kavanagh pleased that the Blues got a point out of the game in the end :
JP
What is everyone feeling after that one today then?
GK
Erm, to be honest with the way the game went, very pleased. It was a difficult afternoon, we started extremely well, got a good lead, we thought that would settle everybody down and we would probably go on and win the game comfortably. But, credit to Wycombe, that didn't happen, they played some really good football and we were hanging on in the end, not so much hanging on but certainly chasing the game.
A game today in which we play counter-attacking against the opposition but we don't normally get done with a counter-attacking game in having such an expansive, flowing game where we are getting exposed at the back. That happened today and I think it was probably because the lads felt it was Wycombe, we can go out and we probably should get three points. But, it doesn't work like that in this league as we said in the dressing room, so coming away with a late goal, credit to Francois (Zoko), the last couple of weeks he has come off the bench and made a big contribution. so all in all we are pleased with a point.
JP
Were you surprised at how good Wycombe were, I know that you do scout these teams but they are second bottom in the table for a reason, but they came and had some go at you today?
GK
Well they did, and you can see why a lot of their results are 3-2, 4-3, they play a very expansive game, their two wide players (Joel Grant and Anthony McNamee) are very quick, don't really tend to look to defend and help their midfield out and we thought we could expose that with the three in midfield. But, we didn't get support up to Lee (Miller) quickly enough today and when we did he didn't have good possession of the ball and we were running beyond play, which in turn left us a little bit bare in midfield.
So, it is a learning curve, it is a learning curve for us as the management staff and it is certainly a learning curve for the players. But, as we said in the dressing room, look, probably Charlton aside anybody in this league can beat anybody, and we had a really, really good away performance last week, expecting to come here today, especially after the start, and get a good win. It didn't happen but in the end because we scored so late we are pleased with a point.
JP
In particular in the first-half, we said in commentary, it was bit like watching two boxers just dropping their defences and going blow for blow with each other, just punch after punch, end to end to end. Have you ever really seen a game like that?
GK
Well, as I said, we don't normally play that way, we certainly like to take the game to the opposition in that way and expose the weaknesses between the lines of the back four of the midfield and the strikers and try to play inbetween the lines. That is why we play with the three up top who roll off the line, get into the pockets and try to hurt the opposition defence.
But, whether it was an enthusiasm to get that goal, maybe because of the fact that we were at home, there is an expectancy because we should be going and winning these games. The game became too stretched for our liking and when that happens you are always going to be, not our fault, but certainly under pressure when you are conceding chances. Credit to Adam Collin today, I thought he was outstanding in goal.
JP
McNamee has clearly had a big impact for them, he has come in for the victory over Chesterfield, he has come in and played very well again, Joel Grant very impressive, I thought the two forwards for them (Marcello) Trotta and (Stuart) Beavon were really good as well, but do you think you should have limited them to less chances than they had? I mean Adam Collin made at least five top drawer saves today?
GK
Yeah, well as I say about our shape, if our shape was a bit more defensive and the players played from their shape I think it would have been. But, I think you have got to bear in mind also, Frankie (Simek) has come in today, he was told this morning at eleven o'clock that he was going to be playing, he didn't have a clue.
Christian (Ribeiro) pulled out with a groin problem, which doesn't exactly help because we had worked a lot in training yesterday about how to cope with their wide players. Credit to Frankie, he has played one reserve game, he has been out for a good number of weeks now and he showed his fitness. But, I think from the sideline we are certainly screaming at him just to sit in, be a server, be a support from behind.
As I say, because we are chasing the game he is looking to get beyond and that exposes you a little bit in the wide areas, and they had the pace to cause you problems. But, you know, credit to them, they have come here, they certainly didn't look like a bottom four side, they looked like they played certainly for their manager (Gary Waddock) and if they play like that over the course of the coming weeks and months I can't see them, if they can tighten up at the back, I can't see them getting relegated.
JP
Did they try to do something as well to bypass your three in the middle, they almost played 5-5, they almost had five defenders and five strikers and they just sort of surrendered midfield and played in those two areas and tried to maybe play around you?
GK
I think once we conceded the second goal I think we panicked a little bit and we got a fright. For the second goal I think we were done four v four at the back, and then it was a case of OK, we need to take the game to them. Which then obviously leaves you, because you are going to take more chances, you are going to take the game to the opposition which leaves you a little bit exposed at the back.
But, credit to them as I say, they continually for 90 minutes kept going, they passed the ball in the right manner, they got the ball into their strikers and I thought their support play from the front when the ball went into the strikers and wide was excellent. But, this period now is a vital period for us, we go and play Preston next week and we have seen them play, we certainly feel there are weaknesses in their game, we feel we can expose those weaknesses.
Then hopefully based on chances, based on us hopefully being a bit more defensively sound, which we probably weren't today, from our shape, that we will continue this run that we are on. Confidence is high, it is one of those now, if we had come up here after the game having been beaten it would have been a dull week, it would have been a bit down having to pick players up, but credit to them, every week they come in and they give their best and they go for 90-95 minutes, and they have done that again today.
JP
There is no doubt it was a good point in the end, it was some match, thrilling end to end sort of stuff, just one minor disappointment, do you feel with the quality of their back line, at times they looked really ropey at the back today, I think bless him Chris (Lumsdon) described one of their defenders as awful today, do you think that maybe Carlisle could have got at them a bit more than they did?
GK
Well, I think that is in the end why we went 4-4-2, we thought if we could get the extra man up top, we weren't exposing their weaknesses in the high areas with having the three and then getting inbetween their lines. So, we thought that if we put the extra man up top, Francois (Zoko) might get on the half turn, get at their back four, cause their centre-halves a problem.
Whether it worked because of that I don't really know, but certainly Paddy (Madden) had an effect when he came on, Francois had an effect when he came on, Tom (Taiwo) had an effect, and that is no disrespect to the three lads that came off (Rory Loy, Liam Noble and Paul Thirlwell respectively), it was just tactical today and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But, credit to Francois, for the last two weeks he has come off the bench and he has now given the manager (Greg Abbott) a selection problem.
JP
And I don't think Jon-Paul McGovern always gets all the credit he deserves, through ball for Rory Loy which he almost scored, a very good save from their goalkeeper (Nikki Bull) round-about the hour mark I think it was, and then the cross for the equaliser, I mean two tremendous bits of play?
GK
Well, I think the very first goal he looked like he was going to cross with his right foot, chops it onto his left, puts a great ball in and we are expecting Lee Miller to head towards goal. But, he had the nous and the awareness to see where Rory is, a great header down, a great finish, and you think lovely, we are going to go and march on here, and as I say, it didn't happen.
But, certainly with the second ball J-P put in, fantastic, and he has got that quality, he shows it every day in training. I think what he has really added is that impetus and that energy, which probably for a 31-year old you don't expect to have. But, he has got great honesty about his game, he is a team player and if we can get him in those final thirds into areas where he can cause the opposition problems then he is a real threat because he will provide for the likes of Rory, Francois and Lee.
JP
Has Francois maybe got himself maybe into the first team frame now with two sort of heroic emergences from the bench?
GK
Well to be honest if he keeps performing like that coming off the bench then we will just have to keep him on the bench if he is going to keep scoring. As I say, credit to him, every time we ask the players, take it in the manner it is meant, be professional about it whether you are starting or you are not starting.
Be a team player in and around the dressing room, deal with your disappointments, which is difficult at times. but the only way to answer them is on the pitch, and fair play to him, the last two weeks he has done that. Whether the manager decides that away from home next week against Preston he is the right player we will wait and see, but he has certainly not done himself any harm anyway.
JP
A couple of bits of housekeeping I must ask you about, Liam Noble, his loan is coming to an end soon and also Christian Ribeiro's loan coming to an end soon, is work ongoing? Are you hoping to maybe secure them longer term?
GK
Yeah, we have asked about both players, we haven't had a definitive answer either way. We have an inkling as to what way it is going to go, but until it is actually done and dusted you never know. So, we will wait and see what the forecoming weeks have in place, on that basis we have been lucky enough with Frank coming in and having a very solid game, and he will only get better and stronger, so we do have cover there.
I think if Nobs was to sign that would be fantastic, if he doesn't sign then that might be an issue where we will probably have to look into the market. But, listen, who knows, we have had a fantastic run up to Christmas, the problems for clubs like ourselves has always been obviously finance and certainly with this January transfer window bigger teams come calling and if the offers are right it is very difficult to keep hold of them.
To be perfectly honest, I would be very, very pleased if we don't get any calls for any of the players and January comes and goes, we keep the nucleus of the team together and maybe add if we possibly could one or two, and then really give us a chance to push on and march on towards the end of the season and let's see where it takes us. But, January is a difficult time and you are really sort of looking over your shoulder hoping nobody makes a call and attracts one of your players.
JP
Yeah, and I am sure we will be badgering you and Greg over the coming weeks over that so no more on transfers today, Lee Miller though appeared to pick up a knock when everyone was celebrating the goal. Is there any problem with that? Is he OK?
GK
Erm, he hasn't said anything in the dressing room, I mean the lads are having their Christmas party tonight so he is probably not going to it, he might have to be in tomorrow. No, to be fair, he works his socks off, he has been outstanding again today, I think if we get the right service into him he will hold the ball up all day long, he can occupy two centre-halves which gives the opposition problems. Fair play to him, he has done extremely well, so hopefully he is OK for next weekend.
JP
And I must just finally ask you a couple of questions about Preston which is coming up, a huge game for the Carlisle fans, they see it as their tightest of derbies, I know it is an area with not a great deal of Football League teams, but a big match for the fans and I am sure everyone is very excited about Boxing Day?
GK
Well, I think Preston are one of those teams similar to Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Charlton, you have got a lovely stadium, a lovely pitch, got a great history, and usually, I don't want to tempt fate there, but usually they are the games that we actually perform well in. Hopefully that will be the case again next week, I have seen them against Hartlepool, the manager has seen them last week against Chesterfield.
We do feel there are weaknesses, I am sure they have seen us, certainly if they have seen us today they will think it will be a very expansive game and that they can exploit us. But, no doubt it will be played in the right manner which will be both teams getting the ball down, trying to create chances, we will just wait and see. But, we are confident, confidence is high at the moment, we don't think we have any fresh injuries, so we will be looking forward to going to Preston and taking them on on their patch.
JP
Would you expect Christian Ribeiro to be back in and around the squad at least?
GK
Er, well, we are not sure because he had a tight hamstring today and he didn't declare it yesterday, he just woke up with it this morning. So, we don't know whether it is a hamstring or whether it is a back problem. If it is just literally a hamstring and there is a bit of fatigue in there well then I would imagine so he will be. But, if it is a back problem it depends how long that takes to settle down, but we just wait for that one.