County boss Keith Curle spoke to BBC Radio Nottingham after his side's 2-0 League One victory at home to Carlisle, Curle saying it was an important day for his players after already winning three games in a row :
"I think it was an important day, I think not for myself but for the players, the last three games I think emotionally with the adrenaline pumping, effort-wise, the commitment, the application, it has taken care of itself because the players have been given the licence to go and express themselves. Today was a big day for them because they knew they were playing against a team that has been up there for a long time in and around the play-offs and pushing for the play-offs. So, it was a big ask and a big challenge and I think the players today nullified their openings and had enough in the energy banks to create goals and score goals.
"The first goal is something that Colin West has been working on with Jonathan Forte, his movement in the box, creating half a yard to get either a header or a strike at goal so it was pleasing to see that come off. Then also with the free-kick we were practicing the free-kicks yesterday with Alan Sheehan and Alan Judge out bending balls into the top corner, it is fantastic when you can replicate what you do on the training ground and take it into a match, it shows the quality in League One at present.
"I think both teams in the second half nullified each other, we had a couple of chances on the break, I don't think Stuart (Nelson) was overly tested, I think he had one shot that he made a meal of that looked fantastic, he could have taken a step and caught it. Well, that is what the goalkeeping coach Kevin Pilkington said, he would have a taken a step and caught it.
"It is comic book material for me, if you were going to write a script for a manager to come in then this is what you would write with four wins and four clean sheets. Not overly fantastic performance-wise and not as free flowing as we want it to be but the results are there, the unity is coming and growing and the desire is in that changing room, which is pleasing. I don't think that any decision I have had to make has been easy regarding team selection. But, pleasingly I know that there is enough in that changing room, not only ability-wise but the application and the desire and the professionalism to go out and put in a performance.
"It is not surprising that some of our players have taken knocks today, but I know that with John (Wilson) the physio the recovery sessions will be good. We won't have to mentally test the players too much, we will rest them, the preparation will be spot on for Tuesday, the application from the players will be there, give them enough information on Tranmere, expose their weaknesses, nullify their strengths and we will go toe to toe with them.
"The easy thing for me to say personally would be to say that I am relieved, but I am pleased, I am pleased with what has been coming out of that changing room. That I have been giving them questions and that they have been coming up with the answers. A slight change of formation today, again, a change of personnel starting, again, more answers given to myself to comprehend, and then it is down to me to put together a team for Tuesday that again is going to be competitive, but also have enough in the armoury to score goals and open doors.
"I think with the attitude that is coming out of the changing room we are now chasing fifth place. You have always got to be striving for the next step and the next step is fifth. Our mentality now is we are chasing fifth, we want to get fifth and then when we get fifth we want to get fourth."