United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 3-3 League One draw away to Preston, Abbott saying it was a sapping game for all to be involved in :
JP
It is a long way to the back of this stand at Deepdale isn't it, you look tired out by that, but I am sure you are more tired out by the game today?
GA
Yeah, I think the game was a bit sapping wasn't it to be fair. The steps are quite easy, some games............... What was your question? I don't even know what your question was?
JP
Well, I am going to start with asking about.........
GA
It was about the steps.
JP
Yeah, it was about the steps actually, but I am going to start with asking how Rory Loy is, I know a lot of fans are concerned?
GA
Yeah, he is not good, he has gone to hospital, we will have to wait and see but I don't think we are going to see much of Rory over the next few weeks, possibly even months. But, we will have to wait and see, I don't want to say what it is because I don't know to be fair, but it didn't look very good.
JP
Yeah, we won't speculate on him until you have more details I am sure. On the game then, it had a bit of everything didn't it?
GA
Yeah, I think it was always one of those games that was going to have a sting in the tail wasn't it. Unfortunately we couldn't get the fourth when they were pushing and we get a couple of half-chances, good chances. It is just a well worked goal the third one to be fair but it set up another finale for them to have a little bit of an onslaught. I don't know, whatever you want in a football game, if you are a neutral you are buying a season ticket to watch us I think at the moment. Phenomenal game and two more goals than last week, more quality football from last week and some mistakes thrown in as well.
But, the honesty, the honesty shown from the players was fantastic and we are so proud to be part of all of it. Kav (Graham Kavanagh) and myself and all of the backroom staff and the fans today. We are feeling like a really tight football club and that is really, really important if we want to go anywhere together, and today's last two minutes out of it it would probably have been the perfect day. It is a big club this, you can see for yourself what it is all about and what we are up against, but we more than competed today.
JP
When you see what it means to the fans, just by how many have come and how loud they were and passionate throughout the game, how proud are you to be involved in a game like this today?
GA
I was so proud to be able to be stood on the touchline today for everything, for our fans, for the game of football, for the type of football, for the goals, for the excitement, for the aggro. It was just a phenomenal day but this is what we are trying to say to the fans that we want to bring it forward, move it on. I thought they have seen a side that never sat back, never looked like wanting and settling for a draw, wanted to win a game. I think they would be pleased to hear us say that, they might be disappointed we didn't hold on to some of the goals, but the Preston fans might feel the same about their own team. But, just a phenomenal game of football.
JP
In terms of the goals you scored, one man in particular stood out, Steve Hayward has not managed to watch Carlisle this season who was with us in commentary, he thoroughly enjoyed it but he thought Francois Zoko was, as he was, magnificent?
GA
Yeah, well we are working so hard on a level with Francois to get the best out of him, I think today we have seen the best out of him. He still goes to sleep sometimes but I am not criticising anybody, we were asking for a man up there to provide and create and score, and he has done everything today. He has provided, he has created, he has scored and we can't ask for any more, if he could do the other side of it as well then he would be in the Premier League. But, he was literally unplayable at times today and if it hadn't have been for his cramp he would have seen the game out. The goal coming down that side, he was already in the swing of the game, it might have changed things, I don't know, but certainly give him some plaudits today, he deserves them.
JP
There is a real affinity with the fans the way he, and Liam Noble actually, were working the fans and getting them riled and trying to get them right behind you?
GA
Well, we are one of those clubs aren't we, we have to be united in every sense of the word, and I think to a man from the chairman (Andrew Jenkins) right down to the supporters that have come today, this club is together and for that you will see a lot of decent football and lot of decent results, and that is what we are getting. We don't think we are blessed with the best team in the world, we know we have got deficiencies, we know we have got flaws, but we know we have got a lot of character and a lot of ability and a fantastic, fantastic team camaraderie. I think that is not just through the football, that is through the whole of the club at the minute, and that is what we need.
JP
You have mentioned that there were a couple of mistakes for the goals, certainly with the first two you conceded, I bet you weren't too happy with those at half-time?
GA
Yeah, I mean would you just let me off for not even talking about the faults in the game today because I can talk about those later on in the week if you want. I think it is a day just to say see how far we are coming and how much we are progressing. I am not trying to detract from it, I will talk about them another time but I think today, like I said, from the chairman right through to the fans let's try to look at what we are achieving and how we are doing it. There are some mistakes in there, we admit that and we said it in the dressing room, we said we will dress those down later on in the week. But, I think today let's just say well done to that group of players and everybody connected with the club.
JP
Fair enough, what about the James Berrett goal? Is that proof that sometimes it doesn't have to be the perfect goal, sometimes players should shoot more than perhaps they do? Because, it was a dreadful shot to get the goal that was almost the winner?
GA
You pick up the paper tomorrow and just see how dreadful it was, it has nestled in the bag and he has got his sixth goal and he will be happy. Look at the shot that they had (from Nathan Doyle), the best shot of the day that hit both posts, hit Adam (Collin) on the nose, hit everybody else and came out. That goes down as a near miss, Bez's wonder shot that scuffed up in the air goes down as a goal. So, everybody that is connected with football will tell you that it doesn't really matter how they go in, he is pleased with that.
JP
And you had both sides of last gasp heartbreak and euphoria, at the end of the first half you got that goal that got you in level and then right at the end what a killer blow it was from them. But, there is an argument I suppose that it had been coming, do you think it was fair at a point apiece?
GA
Erm, I am going to be biased today, I thought that we were the better team football-wise, football-wise I thought we played the better stuff. They have got a bit of strength, they have got some quality, (Iain) Hume was a threat as Francois was for most of the afternoon. But, I am going to be biased today and say I think we deserved the win and I wouldn't be embarrassed to have been stood here talking about a win.
JP
But, it is good now that you have got a nice easy game to get over this one with?
GA
Yeah, listen, we have just said there that you have got three unbelievable games to look forward to. If they are anywhere near as good as this then the lads have got something to look forward to, the fans have and so have you people. It is terrific and if we can come through Huddersfield unscathed, if we play like that today we have got every chance, then we might see 9,000 or 10,000 at our place. Seriously, because they will bring a big following and we might have won some friends as well in our own section today, so that is what we have got to look forward to.
JP
A great start to the festive period, have you had a good Christmas yourself by the way?
GA
I have, better now, this is Christmas, this is Christmas, that was better than any turkey.