Greg Abbott On The Morecambe Draw

Last updated : 08 November 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Blues boss Greg Abbott
United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's 2-2 FA Cup draw at home to Morecambe, Abbott giving his views on his players letting a two goal lead slip in the first round tie :



JP

What is you evaluation of that one today then?

GA

Much of what I expected if we weren't right at the races and right on top of our form and right on top of our attitude and mental approach to the game then we would find ourselves in a tough match. That is what we got today, a very tough match.

JP

Where do you think you weren't right at the races?

GA

I don't know, it is very difficult to put your finger on why we were so good last week and why we were so ordinary today. But that is the FA Cup, these things happen there, you will never be able to explain them, they will happen to loads and loads of different teams and different managers, it is very difficult to understand. But our fluency and our tempo and our quality on the ball at times today was not there. When you don't do that you find yourself having problems and that is what happened at the end of the game.

JP

A couple of fans raising the question of whether Carlisle raise themselves for the games that perhaps aren't as big as the Charlton and the Leeds, would you like to respond to that?

GA

Well they do, but that is a simple thing because we went to Morecambe in the Johnstone's Paints and beat them. We have gone to lower league sides this season and we have beaten them as well so it is not the case.

JP

What do you put it down to today though? 2-0 up and even 2-1 up against ten men, why couldn't you close this one out?

GA

Because you get complacent, that is what we did and we gave the ball away cheaply, we were flicking and farting around with the thing up the top end of the field and giving it away. We gave the ball away twice for their goals, once in the middle of the park where they get a corner and score from the corner.

The second when Richard (Keogh) goes on what looks a great run but he gave the ball away, ten seconds later it is in the back of our net. So we are giving the ball away, we are doing the things that we have talked about so many times and giving opportunities and chances to teams to get back into games that we should be shutting down.

That is what has cost us again today, making basic errors in areas of the pitch which we have talked about more or less every day on the back of this good run. But we keep doing it and we keep shooting ourselves in the foot and I have told the players exactly what I think about that, and if we don't cut them out then there are going to be problems, we have to do something about it.





JP

After that good win against Southend and a great performance though, you seem a frustrated man, or are you just frustrated that they couldn't just carry that on?

GA

Well we don't seem to make life easy for ourselves do we. It was never going to be easy today, that is what happens in the FA Cup but what you want to do is play the game bright. Regardless of whether it be Morecambe, Leeds, Charlton or whoever it is, just play the game right, in the right way, pass the ball in the right areas at the right times and make our pass selection miles better than it is.

Then when we get a lead like that we keep being professional, keep doing the right things, things that have got us into that situation at Southend, at Charlton, and in the game today. We are 2-0 up and we have to keep doing the right things, today we didn't and we have got punished.

To be fair I am actually, in a way, quite pleased because it just shows the players that when we do take our foot off the gas and when we do make those errors, and when we do do the things I am talking about we cause ourselves problems. That has been proof in the pudding today.

JP

And it is a full team of course you put out against Morecambe today, paid all respect to them but it just didn't quite come off did it, they did create a lot of chances Morecambe.

GA

Well we did as well so that evens it out.

JP

I think there were good parts to the performance, disappointed not to see (Vincent) Pericard or (Kevan) Hurst score almost straight away in the start of the game?

GA

Yeah, we got off to a flying start, we have caused them a lot of problems. We have created a lot of chances as well, so have they. That is an area we are disappointed with but at the other end Vincent should have scored in the first few minutes and then Kevan should put it in as well. It is the easiest chance of the game, they have not had any chances better than that in the whole of the game.

So again, we put that in and things might be different but we have got the 2-0 and that is fine. It is closing the game out and being professional, more professional than we were today, we have allowed them back into the game and we are disappointed about that.

JP

As you said, you are almost pleased, is it a good wake up call just to let them know that everything isn't fine after these two good results you have had?

GA

Well at the minute we don't lose anything, we are still in the cup and we haven't lost a game and we have had a massive reminder that if we took our foot off the pedal and do the wrong things then we are going to get punished. That is exactly what happened today, so I am not pleased about it because I wanted to win the game and I didn't want a replay. But it does show us and shows our players that if we don't do what we are talking about then we are going to get things go against us.





JP

Does the replay get put on this Tuesday in precedence over the Chesterfield game do you know?

GA

I will have to find that out, I think it is a week on Tuesday they do them don't they, they leave it a week and then they play on the following week. So it looks like we have got a thick set of fixtures coming up again.

JP

Ahead of the Chesterfield game then what are you going to be saying your players about not making the same mistakes?

GA

Well we haven't done up to press have we, we haven't been beaten by a lower league side yet this season and that still remains the case, so it is more of that.

JP

Tom Taiwo took a fierce tackle and he looked a little bit shell-shocked by that one, what is the situation there?

GA

I haven't seem him yet, he was still in the treatment room after the game so I will go down straight away and I will do the other bits and pieces. Then I will have a look at Tom and try to find out what the problem is, but it didn't look too good did it when he came off so fingers crossed with that.

JP

And it was some of an introduction for Adam Clayton, came on, got dragged down, then booted and then barged and the player (Stewart Drummond) got sent off, some start for the lad.

GA

It is real football isn't it and that is what he has come for. So he will soon find out what it is all about at this level.





JP

How do you feel tonight? I was asked if this puts the pressure back on you and I said no and that you just needed to make sure you get the job done and get this sort of complacency and casualness out of the players.

GA

Back under pressure in terms of what, I don't understand.

JP

I was saying, I said you weren't, it is an obvious question.

GA

What sort of pressure do you mean?

JP

I was asked is Greg Abbott back under pressure because they failed to beat Morecambe with a full team. I said no and that I don't think you are but what do you need to get from your players, what sort of reaction do you need over the next week?

GA

I don't understand the question, I am under pressure for people thinking we are not doing the right things again, is that one coming up?

JP

That sort of thing yeah.

GA

Alright, OK, well I don't think I am to be honest.

JP

I didn't say you were but what sort of reaction do you need now from your players after this one?

GA

Another win, which we are now three unbeaten and we need another win on Tuesday. That will sort it all out I think.

JP

And of course you need it to be a good win though ahead of what is going to be a tough trip.

GA

No we don't, we just need to win. It is as simple as that, football is about winning and winning breeds confidence. It gives you freedom and less fear and obviously you are talking about pressure on, so it gives you less pressure.