United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 4-0 FA Cup first round win away to Alfreton, Abbott saying he was delighted with the result :
JP
Through into the second round of the FA Cup today, how pleased are you with the manner in which you got there?
GA
We are delighted, it doesn't really matter the way you get there, the key for us is that it is really important that we do progress to the second, and hopefully the third. But, with the goals we scored in the first-half and when you look at the scoreline in the papers tomorrow it looks like really comfortable.
But, at times in the second-half we took our foot off the gas a little bit and Alfreton, credit to them, came back and put us under some real pressure. To be fair it was like a training session for our back four, they really had to work hard and close people down and be at their best to keep the score at nil. But, we scored four goals in the first-half and I think that is where the game was won and lost.
JP
Strangely enough, and that is a key point you make there, but strangely enough Danny Livesey is in for a shout for the man of the match actually despite the fact that you have won 4-0 away from home. I mean that just shows how big of a go and effort Alfreton made out there?
GA
Yeah, I mean we got into some bad habits second-half you know, we just tried to get through the game and I think the lads are looking after themselves, not trying to get booked or injured or anything like that. Your mindset changes, the game was probably won, we wanted to do better in the second-half obviously and a little bit of magic from Francois (Zoko) late on still nearly got us a fifth goal, which probably would have been richly undeserved.
But, that is the way we played today, we were clinical in front of goal and showed a big difference with the finishing. Alfreton should really have had a goal in the second-half but poor finishing, great defending, good goalkeeping, whatever you want to do to put it together has stopped them getting probably a slight reward out of the game.
JP
The opening 10 or 15 minutes, were they a little nervy for you? Alfreton really came at you?
GA
It was never ever going to be any different, the first 15 minutes was always going to be the case. We thought the first goal was going to be important, we got it at a great time because they were putting us under pressure, doing exactly what we said they would, putting the ball into the right areas, turning us round, going long early and chasing after everything. I think they had four or five corners in the first ten minutes and we did well to keep a clean sheet there and that was probably a key to us winning the game.
JP
When you come to a ground like this do you expect to score such good quality of goals to beat a side like Alfreton? One goal in particular (Rory) Loy's overhead kick and the passing that led up to it were absolutely splendid?
GA
Yeah, I mean we played some good stuff after the first 10 or 15 minutes and we knew the game would settle down, their early urgency and energy would get a little bit less, and we did pass it nicely for about 20 or 25 minutes in the first-half and got our goals.
Really the game was sort of won and lost in that period, it was highly unlikely I thought that they were going to come back from four down, and we took our foot off the gas to an extent where it didn't look like we were probably going to get any more. But, we are sort of OK with that, job done in a really impressive clinical 30 minute spell, which is what we have been crying out for isn't it in the past.
JP
And in a bit more detail what did you make of the home side today, Alfreton, a non-league side, putting themselves up against your boys and for large parts of the game they matched you quite well?
GA
Yeah, I think the key was the finishing, we got the goals at great times but I have got a lot of sympathy for Nicky (Law), I know how difficult it is to work with limited resources and every time you go down a level the resources get more and more limited.
But, for energy and enthusiasm and quite a lot of quality they deserved a goal out of the game, which would have made their scoreline look a little bit nicer. At the minute they are on a bit of a back end of some defensive errors, but I think if they can play with that energy and that determination then hopefully their league form will improve, and I wish them well.
JP
And would you imagine that if they can take some of this performance into some of their league games their form would improve and they would start to pull clear at the bottom?
GA
You would hope so but they have probably raised their game, they have got to raise their game for their league programme now and that is their bread and butter. They have worked so hard to get into that division you would hope that they could pull some results out and stay there.
JP
In terms of preparation now for your next match, in Sheffield United at the weekend, it is a game where you have got the opportunity now to have a bit of time off to get ready for that game and you will go in with a bit of confidence about it?
GA
Well, there won't be any time off, the boys have been crying out that it is the same time on Tuesday, I said that it will be the same time on Monday. Because, I think there are one or two things, well there are a lot of things that we need to work on but we want to get the mindset that it is work, we need to keep going, we are not even at the halfway stage of the season, next week now is a really big game. We can really go and enjoy ourselves at Sheffield United, hopefully cause them some problems and maybe nick a result there and keep our unbeaten run and impressive run of late going and see us climb up the table even further.
JP
And I suppose it is a daft one to ask you what sort of team you would like in the next round?
GA
Totton at home I think.
JP
That is the round after, the next round, the second round?
GA
Totton, FC Totton.
JP
Oh, I see.
GA
You doughnut.
JP
They have won 8-1 today, are you sure you want them? They have beaten Bradford Park Avenue 8-1.
GA
That is another one of my teams that, anyway, alright well maybe not Totton, Stourbridge or somebody like that, anybody, as long as we win I am not really bothered.