John Ward On The Crewe Win

Last updated : 17 August 2008 By Thetashkentterror

John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey this evening after Carlisle's 4-2 victory at home to Crewe, Ward suggesting that he is more than happy with United's attacking play at present :


" I'm really pleased with the week, I think that the fortnight has been good. We have talked about preparing for Bristol Rovers when questions were asked, by as us well, and we have come through the whole week. I congratulate my players and my backroom staff, everybody has really pulled in together and finished up with a good week in terms of results. Three very good performances though and six different goalscorers as well in the three matches, so that is really, really nice at the moment, we can have an enjoyable weekend.

" I'm not interested in being top of the league, if you told me we were at the top of the league at the end of May then I would be interested. We are just trying to win our games and see what we can do with the games that we have got. You have seen Leeds lose at home today, all these strange things will happen in a sense throughout the season. I'm just pleased that we have got ourselves off to a good start but where we are in the division doesn't interest me just now.

" Everybody is fit and well and fine and the attitude is spot on. You have seen that today, we are a good side when we have the ball, I'm a bit disappointed that we have let four goals go past in the couple of games. The two matches though, to be fair to Crewe they have come and opened up the game. It has been a very open game of football today, they have deserved their couple of goals. I think that we have exposed them a little bit on their openness though, and found ourselves quite clinical in front of goal, which I wanted a bit more at Shrewsbury, but we have had it today.

" Six scorers, we think that we are good going forward, we are just being a bit loose as a team defending, not just the guys at the back. We're OK playing open football though, I don't think that too many teams will open up against us here at Brunton Park. Crewe surprised me a little bit in the way that they did, but didn't worry me in the way that they did. I felt that if we could get enough of the ball at the top end of the pitch then we have got threat, and so it proved.

" He (Ben Williams) has had a couple of little moments but you can't name me a player on the pitch that hasn't made a little mistake or two. So we'll work at that, we've got Dave Timmins in to work with him on a daily basis, him and the other goalkeepers, so we're fine with everything. I'm not going to get wrapped up in any disappointments at the moment or anything, whether it is players' situations or whatever. I think that we have just got to enjoy this weekend because we might not win three in a week too many times over the season, but we have this week and we have got to be pleased with ourselves. "



" We get asked these questions about Danny Graham and is two games a drought, I don't know. Again there shouldn't be questions asked, but we have stuck with the fellow, we did it through 15 or 16 last season so I am certainly not going to chuck him away after two matches. If he gets crosses then Danny Graham will score goals, we felt that we haven't had enough crosses in the previous two games.

" Today we have and there is Danny Graham at his best, attacking the ball in the box when it is coming from wide, and I am really delighted for him. We said last week that the first player to congratulate Danny Carlton was Danny Graham and today it is the opposite. Danny Graham has got the plaudits for the goals and Carlton has worked his socks off in a team win, and that is the important factor of it.

" Gary Madine, Jeff Smith and Darren Campion have not got a shirt yet, or Grant Smith or Chris Lumsdon. So there are things there that are getting stronger, we all know that Michael (Bridges) has got some quality and I just said that he needs to get those games. He has had a good half hour today, he looked bright and sharp which is good. He has been involved in the build-up for the last goal and that will do him, the team and everybody watching the world of good.

" I've got a reserve game on Monday in which people like Michael will be playing, it's a 2pm kick-off here if people have got the afternoon to come and have a look. I am going to play the senior boys, they need their football so hopefully that will be a good side and a game worth watching as well.

" We have got enough travelling the week after for these people, but they have been terrific. They have been here today, supported us and I think that they have enjoyed what they have seen. Certainly on the away trips I have enjoyed it, we have just got to keep working hard for them and for ourselves, and try to make this another enjoyable season. "