John Ward - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 25 April 2008 By Thetashkentterror
John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton on Friday evening ahead of Carlisle's away game at Millwall tomorrow, Ward first talking about the fact that a win could see the Blues promoted to the Championship :


" Promotion has crossed our mind this week, we've talked about it, it's one of many permutations isn't it. You think about it, you talk about it and I think that the key factor is that we have to win our game. I, nor the players, will not get distracted by results or scorelines elsewhere because the whole thing can have a different slant on it come 5 o'clock. So we just want to make sure that we focus on trying to win the game at Millwall and then see what happens afterwards.

" I think it is a must win game because if we were to lose and other people win their games then we are behind them come the last Saturday of the season and that's not something that we would want to be. In terms of a must win, it's something that we try to do every week of course, but it would be pretty important to win this one.

" The players have been fine, I think like any group of players, we could have done with a game on Tuesday this week to get last Saturday out of the way. It was a day where it went wrong early on, we changed it around, we got back in it. We are going on to win the game, suddenly there is a sending-off and then a stoppage time winner against us, so it was a pretty bleak day in all, but we wanted to get that put right. We've had to wait all week though, and if anything that has probably increased the determination and the desire to do well tomorrow.

" We're chatting about Carlisle United and you can bet your life that these conversations are going on at Nottingham Forest, Southend and Doncaster. Because if they don't win then the situation is that we are still two points clear going into the last game. So like I said, there are many, many permutations and you could go crazy trying to work them out, but there are other football clubs considering the situations just as much as we are.

" I look upon the formation all the time, we've talked to the staff, with Dennis (Booth), with Greg (Abbott). They're both on the coach with me of course, we talk about it at the football club all the time, what we think is the best team to set out to try to win the game. Where we think we might be able to dislodge things from the opponents, and we've taken Millwall into consideration of course. We hope that we've come up with the right team and the right set-up to go and get that win. "



" He (Gary Madine) has been substitute for the last seven or eight games and he has appeared on the pitch a number of times, and got half a game last week, his longest spell. He's still only 17 though, not 18 until August, the young man has got a lot to learn and a lot to do. There is a good young footballer there though who has no fear, wants to be on the football pitch and wants the shirt on. So we've got an added incentive there with that young man to say that if they're not sure about him yet and he hasn't got a name for himself yet, but we know in Carlisle what he can do.

" The New Den is not as bad as the old Den in terms of the crowd not being quite on top of you as much. It's a relatively new ground, it's sort of bowl-like, it's got a good atmosphere added to it, there will be a lot from Carlisle, we are very much aware of that, they will be there at one end cheering us on and the noise stays in the ground. The pitch is in good condition I'm told so it's a good place to play. It's one of those places that you look at it and you think that you fancy it, it gives you a lift when you see it.

" So it's not a concern that there is going to be an atmosphere, I want that to be the case and I know that the Carlisle supporters will add to that massively. I know that they are coming, we know that they are going to be there in full voice and we know what they want from us. We're very determined to offer them the best that we can give them in terms of trying to win the game, and I know that will be reciprocated by them.

" Sticking together and being together as a group of people, supporters and team-wise, we can be quite a formidable force and tomorrow we need to be together. We've got no new problems apart from the problems you know about, Paul Reid and David Raven. Paul Thirlwell has had another 90 minutes on Wednesday and that's obviously a big plus that he is on the coach with me as well.

" Our rivals can say what they like, they can't hurt us or do anything, it's about what we do, we've said that before. A lot of word games will go about, I don't particularly join in that and talk about my opponents in that respect, because it doesn't pay much heed, I don't pay any heed to it and I'm sure they don't really. It's about us, if we get our game right, the worst we can go if we win the game is be two points clear next Saturday with a home game to come and that's where we have got to work. Get our result right and we'll see what people are saying afterwards, but even then it won't bother me. "