United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 1-0 pre-season friendly win at home to Doncaster this afternoon, Abbott saying the most important thing was the way in which United won the game :
JP
You must be delighted with a victory over such a strong Doncaster team today?
GA
Well, we are always happy with a victory aren't we, but I think it is more the way in which we won a game against a team that really does pass the ball and keeps possession. I think we bossed possession for large periods of the game which is really a good sign that we can compete with teams at a good level when we are playing right and we have got our right personnel in the team. I think we look strong and we look fit and I thought we were deserved winners, and a bit more luck in the first-half and a bit more penetration second-half and we might have had one or two more.
JP
Looking at their line up in the first-half and talking to a Doncaster fan who was sat just out in front of us here, that was pretty much as strong as Doncaster get, so how happy were you to be leading at the break?
GA
I don't really pay too much attention to the other side, but, listen, we have just played a Championship side that have got the best they have got, they haven't left anybody out, they might have one or two injuries but they have played everybody that they have got that is available, and that is a testimony to us and the way we are and the way we are setting up things that we can really outplay them for the majority of the first-half. Second-half it was much of a muchness but I felt with a bit more directness and a bit more pace in our play we might have got another one, but the game, as they do pre-season, they just peter out a little bit. But, no really pleased with the way we played and the approach and the attitude of all the players.
JP
What about the football, you have talked about it, but let's focus a bit more on it, in that first-half playing against a team who let's face it, I know it wasn't quite the case last season, but their reputation as the 'Arsenal of the north', they do like to move it around, for the first five or so minutes they were passing it that quickly that even they couldn't keep up with it, and you thought what is this going to be like for Carlisle today? But, not only did you get on top of them, you contained them and you looked the stronger side?
GA
Yeah, I mean we can pass it as well, to be fair this type of team might suit us you know, the way we play it just might suit us. They are not over-physical, they are not over-size-wise, they are not the biggest team in the world, they didn't beat us up at all and we tried to take them on at football, a proper football game in terms of it. So, different to the likes of Dagenham and people like that which tend to cause us problems, but we competed with them in every sense of the word. There were some nice challenges going in there from both sides, nothing stupid, but we are delighted that we have managed to get as much possession if not more than them in the first-half when they have had their strongest side and a team that generally likes to pass the ball, and that is a real big plus for us.
JP
In the game today, a real poacher's goal from the man just doing his warm-up out there, Craig Curran, a wonder goal from Rory Loy on Tuesday, in a way are you more happy to see a proper poacher's goal because that is what you want to see more of from your strikers?
GA
Well, he could have had a wondergoal with Matty Robson's cross, the one that hit the underside of the bar, and we want him to score that type, we want him to score the type he scored today, and then the one where he had a shot from 20-odd yards, we want to see them going in the top corner. So, all different types of goals is what Craig needs, but he has got two now in the pre-season programme, I thought Rory came on and looked sharp as well, Francois (Zoko) was electric at times in the first-half and all three of them have put in a really good shift, and Paddy Madden who has had a game at Penrith has scored a hat-trick today as well, so I am delighed with my strikers.
JP
What about Jon-Paul McGovern as well? I suspect a lot of fans expected to see him used as that wide option, especially with you talking about wanting to use that, but he has played very much in the hole and he looks like he revels in that?
GA
I think we have got to get J-P on the ball, he is a clever player, but the point I said and maybe I don't need to give too much away into what I am thinking but if things don't go right we know we can alter the system without altering personnel, and that is the key to J-P's involvement. But, I think him and Andy (Welsh) have shown that they are very, very good players, Andy has got that bit of pace and a drive from midfield, J-P is a clever, clever player who has got a real appetite for the game, wants the ball all the time and I think he can make things happen for us.
JP
Matt Newsum beside me was really impressed with Stephen O'Halloran, it is the first time he has seen him playing for you and he had another really sterling game for you?
GA
I don't think Stephen has put a foot wrong since he has been here to be honest. I thought he was terrific and he looked good with Lubo (Lubomir Michalik), Danny (Livesey) has done really well today at Penrith and Peter (Murphy) has come on and done nothing wrong, so there is a headache one there because all four are really decent players.
JP
And James Berrett not in the starting line-up, Liam Noble not in your starting line-up today, I mean all manner of headaches for you, but good ones.
GA
Yeah, but the key today was to get everybody as much football as we could. James had his bit the other night, Nobs needed a full 90 minutes, the key over this weekend and Tuesday and Wednesday is to make sure everybody has had 90 minutes and then I will have to start my thought process for what sort of side I am going to pick. But, I don't mind those types of headaches when people are battering your door down with performances to select themselves.
JP
What about on Tuesday? How will you approach the game that you have got, that one with Middlesbrough in particular, the one here at Brunton Park? Will it be more of the same? Will it be more of a settled line-up with just a couple of changes rather than wholesale changes again now?
GA
Yeah, I think over the two nights we will have most players playing 80-odd minutes, maybe making changes later on, and over the two games everybody will play 80 plus minutes, or up to 80 minutes.
JP
And your strikers are in amongst the goals at the moment, you threw down the gauntlet for them, have you been happy with the return you have got so far then?
GA
I think the strikers have done very well. I think you have got to make opinions about where you think they are at and what we can do about it. What we have said all along is that the team needs to score goals, and if they don't score goals we have to do something about it, whatever we do. But, at the minute the balls are going into the box, I thought Matty Robson first-half was absolutely outstanding, he looks an absolute delight at left-back and infact he looks like more like a winger at left-back, if that makes sense, than he did when he was actually playing there. Because, he is tramping on down that wing and most of his play today was in the final third of their half, or certainly in the attacking half of the field.
JP
But, as importantly as that nothing got past him either?
GA
Well, he is quick you see so unless you have got a trick you are not really going to do him for pace. So, he is getting better and better in that position, I think he has been a massive, massive plus for us over the last six or seven months.
JP
1,851 the attendance here today, perhaps coming off the back of the Morecambe and the Gateshead games, not maybe quite where you wanted it, but on Tuesday night I would have thought that on the strength of this you might just get one or two more and there is entertainment here if they come down and watch you?
GA
Yeah, I don't think people get too excited about pre-season friendlies, I wouldn't be too worried about that, there are a lot of people just getting ready for holidays and all sorts. So, listen, my job is just to get the football team right, I can't do much about what comes in the door, it is a lovely day but there might be some barbecues on, some beer gardens full. But, we are trying to make it as entertaining as we can, play as much good football as we can and I thought today we played some decent stuff against a good side, and hopefully people have gone away thinking we are on our way.
JP
And just finally as well, as well as an important friendly here for the team this was a day about one of your players who sadly is no longer with us a footballer, in Sean McDaid?
GA
Yeah, I mean Sean is probably the most wonderful, along with James Chester, professional I have ever worked with, he is an absolute delight, he will do anything for you and it is just a shame that his career has gone down at 25. They were brilliant by bringing up some fans and their team to play us and hopefully we have done him proud by staging the game in his benefit. The attendance hopefully has made a little bit of money for him and him and his family, he has got a new born baby, it can set them up and then he goes whichever way he decides to go is a success, but certainly I have got no regrets about having Sean McDaid at this football club.