United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 1-1 League One draw away to Wycombe, Abbott saying that the Blues had got a taste of their own medicine as the Chairboys equalised in stoppage time :
JP
You will just be learning that you are still in a play-off place by two points because of a Notts County win today, but how have you not managed to win here today, what a late finish?
GA
Yeah, I mean we probably got a bit of our own medicine didn't we because we have had a good run of late goals. But, it is a tough place at the moment, I think they have gone seven games unbeaten, they are on a really good run. I think if you put the past eight games together I think Sheffield Wednesday are first, these are second and we are third. So, you are probably looking at it as a decent point in the end, but with the way that the game ended, we think we are going to win the game and that would have been a massive step into achieving what we want.
But, I have just told the players in there that we can't be too disappointed, we can't be too down, we have got to pick ourselves up for Monday and to be fair the dressing room is a good dressing room. They understand the situation, they know they haven't got time to be upset, it happens, and we just get ready for Monday, and if we can get a result on Monday then four points in the two games would be fantastic and that would really set us up nicely.
JP
A question of two penalties, in the first-half James Berrett looked like he might have been fouled, difficult for us to see from here. In the second-half Liam Noble, I mean everyone in the box, including all the local journalists, just thought it was a clear penalty, cast-iron?
GA
Well, it was a penalty is the answer, but you try talking to the fourth official (William Bull) and he comes up with some unbelievably lame excuse that in his opinion he played the ball, and that infuriates you. But, listen, that has gone that, we can't dwell on that, you only get in trouble, we maybe feel a little bit aggrieved but that is football.
JP
What did you make of your side's overall performance here? Forgetting the two penalties that you didn't get what did you make of the way you and Wycombe scrapped it out?
GA
Yeah, it was a scrap, it wasn't a classic, but these are important times for both sets of players. The pitch is a bobbly pitch, it looks alright but it is bobbly, it is lively and they are fighting for their lives, we want to get our points for a different reason and I thought there was a lot of real honesty in the game. I thought our midfield worked exceptionally hard and we coped with the loss of Chris Chantler which upset us, the way he has been playing and the balance he gives us. So, there are a lot of things to be pleased about but the character of the team is very, very good and the spirit within the camp is excellent, and we carry this forward now for the last, is it six games from now.
JP
Ahead of Monday what can you tell us about Chris Chantler?
GA
That he won't be playing on Monday is probably a definite, he is probably................... I don't want to say too much because the hamstrings, if they go like it appeared to go in the first few minutes then it doesn't look too good for him.
JP
Is it a case that he maybe tried too hard to be availabe for you? Too honest?
GA
Yeah, I mean we are at the stage of the season where you take those sorts of gambles, but I don't know. Dolly (Neil Dalton) was adamant that between them it was worth giving it a go, we did it, it didn't come off, they are the risks you take. But, a hindsight one, nobody knows, he could have come through it with flying colours and been fit for Monday and everybody would have been happy, but we will just have to see how it settles down.
JP
A wonderful reception he got, I know you have already talked recently about how well he has gone down with the Carlisle fans, but when he is coming off 'there is only one Chris Chantler' ringing out?
GA
Yeah, that was from the dugout as well. I think he got a great reception from everybody to be fair, I think because of the way he is and the size of him and that, he is like the peoples' champion and people tend to love him. Like little Tom (Taiwo), I thought Tom put in a fantastic shift again as well today by the way, but they take to those types of players with his guts and his determination and his honesty. It was great for him but he was really upset and he is desperate to be fit for the remaining games but we will have to wait and see.
JP
Maybe Tom Taiwo's best display for you?
GA
Erm, yeah, it was Tom's game today wasn't it, it is that type of game where he just got in amongst people, he is showing an unbelievable amount of energy and he is breaking things up brilliantly. The three of them in there (James Berrett, Liam Noble and Taiwo), there is youth and there is a lot more to come from them, so the future looks good as well. 21 or 22 or something like that, nobody over 22, and really, really pleased with them.
JP
Their equaliser the way it came, they had had one or two chances like that one that they hadn't taken as well, a worldy shot was I think how Chris (Lumsdon) described it, do you think it just comes down to the fact that they are fighting for their very lives in the division and so it is difficult to contain a side with that?
GA
Well, I mean we had just lost our shape a little bit, Francois (Zoko) got caught on the other side of the pitch, the midfield didn't get the chance to regroup. They have won the first header, which is important, and then it bounces to the lad (Stuart Lewis) and he springs onto it well and he hits a great shot. Listen, it happens, it wasn't pure football, it was just a long punt downfield which they have won the first and then they have won the second, we couldn't gather our shape quick enough. We didn't think the game was going anywhere as far as conceding a goal but, listen, that happens, that just shows you that you can never stop concentrating for the whole of the game.
JP
Just regarding the Chris Chantler situation, how close to Matt Robson being ready are we at this stage? He didn't travel with you today?
GA
No, he trained, he didn't travel because we didn't think the journey, if he wasn't going to play, there and back and not doing much work would have been beneficial. So, he has trained today and yesterday, so we are in and we are going to train on Sunday and we will see how he is then and we will look at what we have got available for Monday.
JP
Let's not do a disservice to Lubo Michalik because he came in today?
GA
No, absolutely, he has caused me a problem as well because the natural one would be to see if Matty is fit to pop him in. But, we have to have a look at that and you know what I am like, I am fair to players and if people perform then they need rewarding. But, I will have to have a good think about it, it is the balance I am keen on with the left-sider in there, but we will see what we are all about on Sunday and we will go from there.
JP
He looked like a player who had come back in though, he put his head in amongst the boots a couple of times out there?
GA
No, he was superb today, he was absolutely superb, and any decisions you make will displease somebody. But, that is what we are paid to do and we make them with all honesty and I will have a good think about all that, which will be sometime tomorrow.
JP
And we say it every single away trip but what about those away fans?
GA
I was so upset that we couldn't go and jump into the crowd after we had a nicked a win to be fair. But, there were some fantastic comments before the game, I went to speak to loads of them before the game because I was letting Kav (Graham Kavanagh) do the warm-up and the belief is there and the camaraderie seems to be getting closer.
I think even when they have conceded a late goal we have got a standing ovation near enough coming off the pitch too. So, fair play to them, we are working as a group and a team, the fans and us and the club and we are trying to take it forward as best we can. It is not for the want of trying, I don't think anybody complained about lack of effort today.