Macca On The Huddersfield Match

Last updated : 17 March 2007 By Thetashkentterror

Blues manager Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Saturday evening as he gave his opinion on the 1-1 draw at home to the Terriers. McDonald talking about the controversial sending-off of Blackburn-loanee striker Joe Garner :


" It's another point, we can't complain or - we're not free-flowing, of course we're not at home, but we're battling and not giving in. All-in-all a draw was probably a fair result, obviously the conditions have made it very, very difficult. I thought they (Huddersfield) played some decent football in the first-half, we couldn't get into our stride and then in the second-half we had a little bit of a purple patch. All-in-all I'm pleased with a point considering we haven't played as well as we can do.

" The goal on half-time obviously changes everything, plus as well, the game totally changes when you go against the wind as to what you were doing in the first-half. You can talk about squeezing up a little bit higher and you can talk about other different things, but the goal certainly helps because it gives everybody a lift.

" The dream is still there and I think that point might just keep us up as well, I haven't looked down too far to be fair, we've tried to look up as much as we possibly can. Even that point might keep us up though and people keep on telling us that it is the first time in 20 years that we have stopped in the league. That's fantastic and if that happens then the players might just relax a little bit. I just feel as though they are a little bit uptight at the moment but at the same time the opposition aren't giving us time to play.

" The lad (Joe Garner) is stretching, he stretched for the ball and he certainly didn't dive. He gets knocked off the ball, he gets smashed all over the place and he's certainly not a diver. He's just knocked the ball out of his feet a little too far and I was slightly disappointed with the referee's decision. I've asked him to have a look at it to see if he will rescind it, we can maybe go in after half an hour and have a chat with him and see what he has to say about it.

" I'm not 100% sure what the procedure is because we've never had anybody sent off, that's the first one this season. Another goal for him, he's a goalscorer, and goalscorers score goals inside the six-yard box. We're trying to put the ball there, sometimes it doesn't always get there, but when it does he is in there and he's got another goal which is fantastic for us and for him.

" I had a slight go at them (the crowd) before but they have been fantastic home and away. I think it showed that the team isn't free-flowing yet everybody stopped after the game and we really appreciate that. It gives us a little bit more confidence and we thank them very much for that. When you have an operation it spells danger doesn't it when they have to go in. He (Paul Murray) is on a rehabilitation programme at the moment and we've got our fingers crossed with him as well as Simon (Hackney) and Karl (Hawley). "