John Ward On The Win Tonight

Last updated : 05 December 2007 By Thetashkentterror

John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Tuesday night as he talked about the excellent 3-0 home victory over Swindon that takes the Blues up to second in the League One table, Ward commenting on, in his words, a very good team performance :


" It's a great day at the office and it's just a shame that there weren't a few more people here to see it because I think that it has been a really strong performance by the team. The conditions were pretty difficult with the pretty strong wind in their faces in the first-half. We've had to defend it strong, although a little bit too deep for my liking, but I think that was the case of the conditions a little bit. A clean sheet in that first 45 minutes was vital but to get a goal was really good, and then we pressed it on in the second period. We really pushed forward and showed some good attacking play during that second 45 minutes.

" The wind is only an advantage if you make it that, we said at half-time that even up to that period we were a goal up and we had had the better opportunities in the game going against the wind. So it was important that we didn't allow Swindon to do that to us in the second period. Sometimes you concentrate that little bit more because the conditions make it difficult but we looked very powerful in the second period.

" Two extremely good wing displays from Simon Hackney and Joe Anyinsah, two goals for Joe is terrific but Simon was really exciting tonight. That means that we've had good ball and good conditions in terms of getting the ball down and being able to play and getting to those areas, but those two boys were very confident this evening.

" It really boils down to a very good team performance, we've had the break, sometimes you want that and sometimes you don't but tonight they have come back looking really strong and powerful. We just keep reminding them that that is what good sides do and we keep working hard to try to maintain the form and consistency level. There will be some days when we find it difficult to dig out a win or dig out a point or whatever. When we get good days like this where it's going our way it's important that we capitalise and we did that this evening.

" The Joe Anyinsah situation is nothing different to what we have said before. I don't know if Preston have been here watching him tonight but they will be pretty impressed with the young man I would guess. So I'll just have to contact Alan Irvine and the guys at Preston and see what the position is but Joe will have to go back whatever we decide because we lose him after the 18th of December and I think that he misses three games certainly up to January. So we are going to have to manage without him but he has certainly put on a good display tonight.

" We were pretty pleased with him (Richard Keogh) at Brighton, and it's always nice to put your home debut right in front of people. (Simon) Cox and (Billy) Paynter at the front, and they brought (Barry) Corr on, they are not easy opponents. Danny (Livesey) and Richard have looked pretty strong in there, and when you think that we have still got Peter Murphy ready to come back in, or ready to be there, then I am going to need all those guys. Richard Keogh has put himself in a good position now though.

" It was necessary to put to bed the recent cup form, that leaves doubts and they linger and if the cup results go into league form. Even maybe the 2-2 at Brighton when we have conceded against ten men just leaves that little bit of doubt. The more serious doubters will stay with that but I think if they had been here tonight or they are listening to me and you then they will think we are back. That's a nice thing for me, I think that we have got a good side here and it needs to just keep being reminded by me and Greg (Abbott) and the guys in the backroom as to what is making them a decent side. They have got to keep working at that.

" The referee did have an alternative on the sending-off because he is in charge of the decision and he could have over-ruled his linesman. Which you would have expected him to having made that first decision in saying that it wasn't a foul but it has gone our way and I'm not going to change it. Hopefully Swindon will appeal against it and get it reversed. "