Greg Abbott On Yet Another Home Win

Last updated : 25 March 2008 By Thetashkentterror

Blues number two Greg Abbott
With United boss John Ward still suffering from a sore throat, assistant manager Greg Abbott spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Monday evening as he talked about the 2-0 victory against Northampton at Brunton Park, Abbott suggesting that Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has scuffed his goal in six minutes from time :


" Thrilled, we tried to play things down didn't we on Saturday after the result because we knew we had a tough game today. We've done Easter though, we've done six points out of six, we've seen other teams around us drop points and that. So I'm not going to shy from anything, the dressing-room is absolutely flying and buzzing at the moment.

" The players deservedly need to take heart from that and they can enjoy their weekend because they have been away from their families Friday, Saturday, Sunday and then again today. So we're all going to go back and see our families tonight and we can all go back very, very proud in knowing that we have given ourselves a fantastic chance of ending up at the top of the table.

" Character is never in question with these players, I go back to Swindon when we really did come under the cosh at Swindon and we came away with a point. I think that near enough every team in this league, if they had got a pummelling like we did at times at Swindon then they would have come away with nothing.

" We got a point, it's been a massive point now, and then we carry that forward by getting the win at (Leyton) Orient and then the win again today against two teams probably in their last chances of getting promotion play-off spots who have both had exceptionally good runs. I think that probably it was very comfortable on Saturday, and we deserved the win again today. If we didn't then I'm not bothered anyway, we've got the win and that's all that matters at this stage of the season. "



" In this game you get rewards for hard work, in League One in this level of football if you've got a squad with a spirit and determination and the character that we've got then you get rewarded with it. Sometimes our play is not Real Madrid stuff is it, but we've reached the heights of football and we've battled when we haven't played so well.

" Today was a mixed bag, we played some smashing football at times, not easy, the pitch is a little bit bobbly, the wind gets up, it's not a fluent passing pitch. I think that overall though there has been a lot of entertaining play, we did create a lot of chances again in the game and we're desperately, desperately delighted with that performance.

" It's funny, I spoke to one of the players from Doncaster last week, who I had when I was at Leeds United. He just said that their manager Sean O'Driscoll wasn't bothered about Swansea, but he was petrified about Carlisle because we were a bit of a surprise to everybody. Everybody I think, and they have got to be honest with themselves, probably expected us to drift away but we've hung in on there. We've kept to the shirttails of the leaders and we've put a run together at just the right stage of the season now.

" If we get a play-off spot then terrific, that's the first job done, if we get second then that's a fantastic achievement. Who knows what might happen?, if we keep going at the rate we are going then the lads are capable of anything. So let's just get the Gillingham game out of the way, see what happens tonight with Swansea and see what happens with their results next Saturday. It is a bit boring and we are playing it down a bit but we'll see where we are at the end of next weekend.

" I think the first goal is massive isn't it, we've sometimes played ordinary football and we've got a goal, and all of a sudden we've stepped up a gear and never looked like losing games. I think today, although they did have, Keiren (Westwood) made a fantastic save when it was 1-0, but Simon Hackney has missed a relatively good chance, Danny Graham has missed a couple of chances. I think that overall we had some terrific chances today and probably should have put the game out of doubt before they had that chance. "



" But then to see Danny Graham again, would Danny Graham have done that this time last season? His work-rate to chase down as a lone striker, and then have the vision to see Bridgey (Marc Bridge-Wilkinson) who scuffed his shot into the back of the net, and we're so comfortable from them on. I did tell him that because I think he was aiming for the other corner to be honest, it's something he'll have to live with, but he'll just turn around and tell me to read the papers tomorrow and his name will be in it again and mine won't.

" We're pleading with the fans to come aren't we because they are an extra player at times and I think today that they got behind their team. To see Cleveland (Taylor's) reception when he came off and the lad is such a fantastic character, and he's trying his socks off. He's playing catch up because he's been out of Scunthorpe's side for most of the season.

" These people here, they are honest people aren't they and they do appreciate hard work. We want them to come again, we need them to come in their droves again for the next two games. I think that our next home game is (Nottingham) Forest isn't it so if we can get 12,000 for that, let's go for 12,000 now.

" We're quite a young side, they recover very quickly, Lummy (Chris Lumsdon) was out on his feet, Simon (Hackney) was out on his feet. Then Cleveland again, two games in three days after the lack of football that he has had shows testimony to their characters again. It was just breathers really bringing the substitutes on, touch wood I don't think that anybody has got anything that's worse than just tiredness.

" The key to what we are doing is that everybody is together, they are young, they are fresh, they are going in the right direction. We're just pleased, I'm just pleased and the gaffer (John Ward) is pleased that we have got them as a group to work with, they are absolutely terrific. It's Easter Egg and chips for tea for me tonight. "