Greg Abbott On The Northampton Game

Last updated : 29 March 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Blues boss Greg Abbott
United manager Greg Abbott spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey after Carlisle's 1-1 draw at home to Northampton, Abbott saying that it was definitely a point gained as opposed to two dropped :


" There will always be frustration when we don't win the game, but I think that at the moment with the situation we are in that it is always going to be a point gained. There are again teams around us that have lost, a couple have caught up with decent results, but it is tight isn't it at the bottom. I think that everything you get now when you are down at that end is a bonus, not bonus, it is one that is gained rather than two dropped. So a lot of effort, a lot of determination and I am pleased with that.

" We have had fall-outs all week since Tuesday night, in a nice way. We have said to the players that they have got to understand the seriousness of the situation and what is required to get out of it. There was a lot of guts and determination there, and effort and energy, with some decent play in spells.

" I think that the one thing that stood out to me, and what I have said to the players, is that we are a long way from being done at the minute, because of the effort there and the spirit there. You have seen that the players want to do something about it, they don't like the position that they are in. Today they have rolled their sleeves up and they have grafted away, and they have fought for every ball where possible.

" The crowd won by a million miles, they won because they have come here and they have tried to drown out all the moans and groans. They have been terrific today, they have got behind me and the team in abundance, I thank them for that. I think that they realise how difficult the situation is, but all week, it has been a terrific week.

" All week since Tuesday you have had people coming up to me and offering words of support and encouragement. That has meant a lot to me and I passed it all on to the players and they have responded to that. I think that they are going to continue to respond with that for the rest of the season, but we are a long way from being done. "



" He (Danny Graham) was the captain for the day, again, we wanted to give Danny something to inspire him to kick him on and give him encouragement. It is always nice when a manager I think puts an arm around somebody and gives them extra responsibility, I think that he has thrived on that.

" His first-half performance was full of energy and determination and he is a bit unlucky that he has not got his goal. He has gone out there though and he has had a right go for us, along with everybody else and I think that we had 11 captains out there to be honest with you. I think that is the key between now and the end of the season to do that.

" I thought that Ian Harte was outstanding, he hasn't played a lot of football, he has been training with Sunderland and he has kept himself fit. He is a good player, you can see that he is a very good player. I think that he has proved that he is a bit more than good competition hasn't he. He has been terrific today and we wanted to have a look at him to see if he was fit and if he was still able.

" I think that you have seen today that he is and then we will have to have a look at that one. I think though that he wants to come and help us with the cause for the next month and then we see where we go with that one, but today was a really encouraging performance from him

" Ian Morris has a lot of energy, a lot of determination, he is one that you are going to have to rein in rather than let go because he is full of spirit. The two of them have made a contribution to the game today and they want to help us out of the situation, which is excellent. We couldn't afford to have him sent off, the game was very, very close all the way through in terms of the fact that it could have gone either way in the second-half. "



" The last thing that we wanted to do was to go down to ten men, so we substituted Ian, we put Lummy (Chris Lumsdon) on, he is full of experience, he was itching and chomping at the bit to get on the pitch. When you have got a player like that ready to come in then I think that it is daft to take chances with a player that is already on a yellow card, and has made a couple of challenges that have been penalised.

" The reaction to it (Michael Bridges substitution) is fine, that is OK, I have to make the substitutions, it was a positive one with Joe (Anyinsah) for a little bit of pace. Bridges gave me a great performance there for 80 minutes and brilliant with that, that he has clawed himself back to full match fitness and that is fantastic. So if there were a few criticisms then fine, that is OK with me.

" It is disappointing to concede so quickly, I think that if we get through to half-time, again, goals change games don't they. That is the way it is though you know, I think that the ball has taken a nasty bounce in front of Ben (Williams), he has not been able to keep hold of it and the lad (Luke Guttridge) is Johnny on the spot.

" That happens against us but we don't seem to get so many of them ourselves. Every time their goalkeeper (Chris Dunn) dropped it, and he did drop it a few times today, we couldn't manage to capitalise and that is the probably the way that is going for us a little bit at the moment. That is the way it is though and that is going to happen. It has given us a platform to go to next week, I think that next week (Leicester away) will be an easy game for us. I don't mean easy in terms of it but people will expect us not to get so much out of the game next week.

" Do you know what though, that dressing-room is quite confident that it can roll its sleeves up and put a team that is under pressure in a different way, a different kind of pressure, they have been beaten again today. So we will look to go there and push them all the way and have another performance. A point today gives us that impetus, and like I said, it is a point gained and we go there next week and we have a right go at it. We will be trying again and giving it our best shot next week. "



" They have had a knock, they have got pressure in a different way. You remember us last season, we were trying to get over the line, points don't come easy at that end and they don't come easy at our end. They will have 30,000 people, or best part of next week roaring them on, so it is a game which we have to look forward to and I can't wait.

" They are all points gained aren't they, Hartlepool losing last night as well has dropped them right into it. So there are seven or eight teams now involved and we have got to make sure that we keep clawing these points one by one and get nearer to that safety mark.

" There are a lot of teams in it though, there will be a lot of nervousness around the country, we are not the only ones in this situation and our fans aren't the only ones that are suffering for this type of football. Let's hope that we can get those points as quick as we can, but we are in there and we are scrapping, and I can assure everybody else that we will be fighting tooth and nail right to the death.

" I thought that Evan Horwood was terrific, apart from his last touch of the game where he has nearly sold us right down the river, I thought that he was absolutely terrific. He is learning but he made some terrific tackles in the first-half, he has not done a lot of training, he has not had a reserve game and he has come in there and he has performed absolutely admirably in my book.

" He had a little bit of blood spilt, good old days, you need to see a little bit of blood spilt for the cause, but he is OK, he is fine. I don't know much about Peter Murphy, he is waiting for the injection to settle down and we will have a look at that on Monday. We might have a bit more better news, or more news, on Monday about that situation. "