Greg Abbott On The Crewe Win

Through into the northern area semi-finals, you must be delighted?

GA

I am delighted, and another result under the belt, another one ticked off. Which, it has been a big week, last week has been a big one for us, the FA Cup and then the Johnstone's Paint. If we can round it off with a result on Saturday then it has been tremendous and the season is firing on all fronts, so we are well pleased.

JP

I know in the last couple of games you were more backed than not to get through, but it is a good run of form and a good bit of momentum at a key time of the season for you?

GA

Yeah, no games are particularly easy, Saturday we made easy because of the way we approached the game. Tonight it was reasonably comfortable without being anywhere near a walkover, but we felt reasonably comfortable. Their goal gave us a few jitters for a moment but then we got the third one and we ran out comfortable enough in the end.

JP

In terms of elsewhere in this northern section, Huddersfield through, also through Tranmere winning at Bury, Sheffield Wednesday against Hartlepool playing tomorrow. To reach that final you are going to have to beat a pretty good team it would look like?

GA

Yeah, you wouldn't expect to get to a final at Wembley without having some hard games along the way. Listen, we are in there scrapping away, it is two rounds from Wembley, it is two massive games now as far as I am concerned. If we can nick through the next one then we are in the area final, so that becomes a cup final and the prize is massive for everybody. So, the interest hots up in this competition as you go along.

JP

Yeah, it certainly does, and with a touch of synchronicity, it was a wonderful run in this competition last year, and the team that broke hearts at Wembley in Southampton next up at Brunton Park. A chance for a bit of revenge there?

GA

Not really revenge, it is just a chance to get another three points in the league and maintain the progress we are making there. If we do win or get a positive result on Saturday then it has been a fantastic fortnight for us and the season is alive and kicking on all fronts.

JP

You have got one of those good tough decisions if you follow my drift to make this weekend, because two of your star performers this season have been Lubomir Michalik and James Chester who are both available. But, Peter Murphy's form must be giving you a question mark over whether he has to stay in the team?

GA

Yeah, I am happy enough with good problems like that. We are getting more and more people fit, people have got to fight for their places. I don't like the automatic thing when you have only got enough bodies to let the team pick itself. We have got some real stiff competition, there are a few unhappy people on the bench and not even on the bench tonight. Which is great, I am pleased with that, because it means that we have got a decent squad and a lot of strength in depth and long may that continue.

JP

Long indeed, what about your new left-back Tom Cruise? It was a bit of a sterner work-out for him for this evening?

GA

Yeah, we needed that, we needed to see where he was in terms of his defending work. Saturday was a bit of a breeze for him but tonight he has found it tough, and the pace and the level we are looking at from him he has found that a little bit difficult tonight, well certainly tested anyway. Obviously, he is comfortable on the ball, I think with his defending he needs to get into his positions earlier and be a little bit tougher in the tackle. It matters now, so he has got to step up to the plate.

JP

I just heard you saying to Jeff Thorpe before you were on with us here that Gary Madine could have had a hat-trick and Peter Murphy could have had a hat-trick. On Madine, it seems that a difficult chapter in his life has been underlined today and he is moving on. With the way he is playing for Carlisle United at the moment he has a very bright future in football?

GA

Well, that is what we should be talking about. Tonight I thought his appetite for the game was terrific, he has worked his socks off again, it doesn't matter to Gary I don't think whether it is Johnstone's Paints or an FA Cup final. His attitude is spot on around the football club and long may that continue.

JP

Long indeed, anything on the injury situation? Anyone picking up anything tonight?

GA

No, touch wood, I think we have got through a difficult week again without picking up any new injuries. So, I am pleased on that front too.

JP

The changes you made were just to give other players a run-out? No problem with Michalik who came off for (Mike) Grella?

GA

No, absolutely not.

JP

He didn't come off for Grella did he, he came off for (James) Chester.

GA

Sorry, yeah, both of them came off, they have all got a bit of pitch-time tonight and the bulk of my squad is getting that and that is important.

JP

And I know it is a little bit off, we will talk before the game about it but Southampton, aside from any revenge or not revenge, a really good side and it should be a good crowd draw here at Brunton Park?

GA

Yeah, we would like to think so, we are doing our best on the pitch to try to get some entertaining games and get some goals, and we have scored some goals in the last few weeks. So, it would be nice to get up to maybe 6,500 or 7,000, I don't know. But, certainly we are trying to generate interest in all the competitions and I think the players are doing their bit on the pitch.