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JP
Some game, what is your reaction to that one today?
GA
One of real bitter disappointment, not just the result but the first-half performance and then the injuries, and everything seems to be compounding and going against us at the moment you know. Then we raise ourselves in the second-half and we did what we talked about at half-time, which was being brave, getting right in their faces and asking them a lot of questions.
Playing at a right good tempo and battling our way out of trouble and scrapping our way out of trouble and getting the ball into the front two and see if we could cause them problems. We did that fantastically well and then to get done with a goal at the end has hurt, the whole day has hurt us at the minute and we are all disappointed. It is not just the result, it is the injuries that go with it as well, which added to what we have already got, you look at next week and it is going to take some sorting out.
JP
It was a game of about five different games in truth, but let's talk about the important things. The two injuries to (Francois) Zoko and (James) Chester, you can't really afford any more but you have got two more to deal with now?
GA
That is the bigger disappointment actually probably than the result right now, because the result takes care of itself. We have lost the game, we have lost three points, that is alright, we will have to deal with that.
But, the injuries, it looks like we are certainly going to be without James at the minute, but until we get some specialist reaction then we are guessing. Francois has got a bad cut right down to the bone but they take care of themselves, they look much worse than they are, so he should be OK. But, we are waiting on James.
JP
You just can't handle another defender, you were having to reorganise your defence as it was going into the game and then Tony Kane playing a little out of position as well in amongst that?
GA
Yeah, we tried our best to put a mix and match jobby up. But, the 35 minute spell when we scored our goals was a delight and it was great for the boys. Because, it just shows you what sheer honesty and hard work and no fear does. I thought we showed them far too much respect in the first-half, we were backing off, we got deep, we didn't make challenges, the front two (Joe Anyinsah and Paul Benson) were running us ragged and that was a big problem.
In the second-half we told them to get right into them, close them down and deny them space. We did that and look what happened, we possibly could have won the game if it had swung our way, the fourth goal could have quite easily been ours.
JP
We will talk more about the comeback, because it was fantastic and unfortunate that it didn't turn out that way in the end, but what about the way that you started the game and even right after the break, what was behind that do you think?
GA
Yeah, I have just said that, we showed them too much respect, we sat off people, people make plays for their places don't they and then we perform like that. I just said to the players, I don't want to be right with my selections, I want people to prove that the right people are playing and that people should be in the team. But, we just sat off people, we got too deep, we never got tight, we never made any tackles, we weren't physical.
In the first 45 minutes we got run around a little bit but we did the opposite to that in the second-half. Even the goal after half-time, we have got to be big and brave and strong and go down like a big man and we weren't doing that. We didn't defend for our lives and we got punished today, and then it takes some coming back from but we managed to do it.
JP
You have said yourself that goals change games, you should have had one in the opening minute as well, more than a gilt-edged chance for Craig Curran. I know that it is not necessarily all of his game the goals, but that could have really changed the game that one?
GA
Well, it always does, but it didn't go in so we suffer from that. But, there were a lot of things happened after that, it was after about 32 seconds or something like that, so there was a lot of stuff went on after that. But, we all want a goal, we all want an early goal, it gives you a big advantage, but we suffered after that for sure.
JP
It could have gone either way of course once you got it back to all square in the game. Do you think that maybe the players were thinking about the other end when that late corner came in that (Paul) Benson won it from?
GA
I wouldn't have thought so when you are defending a corner at your own end.
JP
You would hope not.
GA
Listen, again, he has escaped a marker and that is a disappointing one.
JP
At 3-0 down you would wonder how many of the fans might have dropped off the gate for the next home match. But, the comeback really roused them and applause at the end of what was ultimately a defeat must show you that they did enjoy the fight from Carlisle?
GA
I think what a lot of the fans that really do understand what is going on, is that they have seen a team that has got a few problems in terms of the injuries and the problems we have had in the game and the quality of the opposition. You look at the people that they are bringing on and the size of their squad and it is a mismatch really.
But, we showed what we can do with hard work and genuine effort. And the fans, 95% or 98% or whatever it is percentage or whatever you want to call it are sticking with it and they understand what is going on out on the pitch.
Sometimes when you have got opposition of that quality you have got to close them down and get in their faces and treat it like a cup tie, and in the second-half it became like a cup tie. We got on top and nearly managed to pull probably a result out of a game which we were never likely to get for 45 or 50 minutes.
JP
You are quite right on the injuries as well, the things that you are up against. We did talk about that in commentary in quite some detail. Have you got a pretty big week now for yourself because you are going to have to try to patch those gaps up as best you can now?
GA
Well, I am not a surgeon, I am not going to make their knees right. They are what they are and we are asking the club to back us in terms of bringing in other players. Corry (Evans) has come in today to give us that strength in the midfield. To be fair I thought that our midfield two (James Berrett and Tom Taiwo) were outstanding.
I know a couple of Tom's passes, maybe picky, in the second-half went astray but his energy and Bez's energy. I thought they were unbelievable in getting us back into the game in the way they supplied and supported everything that went on was fantastic.
But, we will have to have a talk with John (Nixon), now my job starts now in trying to get a team out for next week because at the minute it isn't looking great in terms of the amount of players we have got available. But, we will have a look at that come Monday.
JP
Just looking at the logistics of that, how many further short-term loans are you actually allowed to bring in now?
GA
You can only have five on your teamsheet so even that is going to be a problem. But, obviously we aren't going to have James I don't think available so we will have a look at it. It is too early for me to start thinking about what is happening, I have not even digested that lot just at the minute and I am really upset right now.