Greg Abbott On The Exeter Defeat

Last updated : 16 October 2010 By Thetashkentterror
Blues boss Greg Abbott
United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's 2-1 loss away to Exeter, Abbott understandably disappointed at the two goals the Blues conceded :


JP

What do you feel about that one today then?

GA

Probably doubly disappointed, obviously the result hurts when you get beat. But, the way we have got beat hurts even more, and I think we should be going back up the motorway with something out of the game.

You look at the two sides and due respect to Exeter, they haven't been beaten here, they are a good side but I don't think they are better than us. I don't think they proved that today, I think we have contributed to our downfall today, and that hurts us.





JP

What do you think was behind those goals? You have just been saying to us off air there that they are the sort of things that you had eradicated.

GA

Yeah, we have got rid of them haven't we but we opened up the nest again today and we gift two goals away. Somebody is telling me the first one is offside anyway, but I didn't see that from where I was stood, I am right down there at a bad angle.

But, the kick from Adam (Collin) is one that he has not been doing and Frank (Simek) then dwells on the ball and gets done when he knows he has just got to help it back into the box when it comes out. They are things that the players know, they don't need me to talk about them, they know they have made two errors and we have got punished for both, and then obviously it is a massive uphill battle.





JP

You reorganised the formation at half-time, at times it looked like you were playing 4-2-4 which was almost gung-ho as you went for the goal?

GA

Yeah, well we want to try to win games. People might say that tactically he got it right again, or he didn't because we lost. We have to take chances and throw people forward because we want to get something out of the game. To be fair our fans have travelled a long way haven't they and they wanted to see some goalmouth frenzy from us and I think they found it second-half.

To be fair I think with a little bit better decision making and a bit more clever play around the box we should have had an equaliser. I thought we got the ball in the right areas numerous times and we couldn't quite find that goal today. Which again, defenders are getting criticised because they have made mistakes but I think our strikers should have got them something as well with all the play we had.





JP

Do you think you created enough for them in the second-half for those strikers to try to get you the goals you needed?

GA

Yeah, Gary (Madine) has got on the ball, numerous times the ball has got into him in the box in great areas and we just couldn't find the final pass. I thought our quality from wide areas at times didn't merit the build-up work, and we have got to get the ball in with a bit more quality and with a bit more clinical edge to it, so that we can make the good play and convert it into chances. But, I thought we had enough of the play in this final third in the second-half certainly to get another goal.





JP

One fan has texted in and questioned whether maybe the diamond formation has finally been a bit found out by a few teams who seem to have done things to try to counter it. Did you feel it maybe today a little?

GA

Yeah, listen, it doesn't matter what formation you play, if we had played 1-10 and made the errors we have it would still have been the wrong system, it is nothing to do with the system is that. Teams will find out about it, they will work it out, there is no problem with that.

If we are going to do it we have got to be effective with it and today with the mistakes it has probably not had the chance to show whether it does or doesn't work. But, we changed it and we got some joy in the second-half and we know we can do that.

So, it is something that we are not going to use 100%, it is something that we are not going to throw away and it is something that has actually given us a real good encouraging start to the season with it. So, it has done its job and we will use it as and when I think it is right. But, today it is more about mistakes than systems I would think.





JP

What about Mike Grella's influence when he came on? He looked like you have found another good one?

GA

Yeah, I thought he was very good. With a little bit more luck, and again, a little bit more sharpness with him he might have found himself a goal. He had more time than he thought but the sun is terrible down there, he said he couldn't see much. That is a good pro, offering an excuse straight away. But, he certainly handles the ball well, his movement is good, he has got a bit of pace, he sees things and he will make things happen, and I think he will be a help to us.





JP

You nearly did pinch a point at the end there with (Francois) Zoko's effort off the line?

GA

Yeah, again, Francois we think has got into some great situations today and he hasn't delivered, for once he hasn't found that pass or he hasn't found that final little bit of magic that he has been doing.

But, it was a terrific effort from the angle he was at, it looked tight from where I was, it was probably better for you. But, we think it is in and he doesn't get that one, but he is still one of those players that is going to make something happen and create for us. But, I thought today his final end product wasn't what it has been.





JP

Given the goals you conceded, do you work on those through the week or you do just say to the players to draw a line under them and don't do that again? How do you manage that?

GA

I think they are goals you draw a line under. It is not because we weren't organised, it is not because we weren't compact. We made two errors and if that happens you are going to find yourselves in trouble. So, we have probably got to say to the lads…..

They have held their hands up, they know they have made the mistakes, we have accepted that, we have changed the system round, we have tried everything we can to try to get something out of the game, and it has not worked for us today. So, we have to take the disappointment on the chin.





JP

Charlton, disappointment for them your next opponents, thrashed at home by Brighton, two teams next weekend at Brunton Park with just a little bit to prove then?

GA

Yeah, I didn't even know that because I have been stuck in a dressing room. So, if they have been beaten then hopefully their spirits are down a bit. We have still got high spirits, we still can't be too disappointed because I think we have come here and proved that Exeter aren't a better team than us. But, we have to be wounded with the result, but not points to prove, we have just got to get back on the winning run and keep the season with a great deal of enthusiasm.





JP

I was just going to finally say that, despite the disappointment of today in terms of the result for you and the goals you conceded, still only down to sixth and it just shows how far you have come?

GA

Yeah, listen, it is a tight league, we know that, but we did say that we need to keep picking points up and keep the run going. Because, it is that tight that two or three defeats sees you down to 14th, 15th or 16th and then you are thinking that it is just an average thing. We want to have a good season, a really, really nice positive season and today has just jolted us backwards a little bit, but we will fight back next week, I will assure you of that.