Macca Talks About The Cup Exit

Last updated : 20 September 2006 By Thetashkentterror
Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips on Tuesday night as he gave his opinion on the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat away to Charlton Athletic :


" They've done Carlisle United very, very proud tonight, they've done League One very, very proud, and they've done themselves no harm whatsoever. What do I take from the game? – loads of confidence, loads of positives out of the game, people who are pushing for places who can't necessarily get in the first-team I suppose from the start. Keeping the shape that we have been working on over all the summer, being hard to break down and then creating chances against a Premiership outfit.

" I think that was a top-notch team he (Iain Dowie) played wasn't it, so that gives us loads and loads of confidence. The players are really, really pleased with the way that they have performed, they are disappointed that they have lost, which is only natural. They've got seasoned internationals from all over the world playing, they've got great movement, they've got height, they've got pace and that is what the Premiership is all about – and we've held our own.

" No disrespect to our level but that is the difference between our level and the Premiership, give them one chance and they'll stick it in the back of the net. We've almost stopped them from having an out-and-out chance, seeing the whites of the goal all the time, this is the first chance that they've had and they've stuck it in the back of the net.

" I don't think there were any fitness differences, there was lots of movement and lots of pace, they keep the ball and don't give it away cheaply – but I think we've matched them on that. It'll be nice for our fans to come and support us in the next two home games because they have had one hell of a travel over the last three games. They were fantastic again tonight and I'd like to thank them on behalf of the players for getting behind them, in the first-half they were brilliant, in the second-half we tried to score in front of them, and I hope they enjoyed it even though their team has been beaten.

" We've got a few days to get ready for the weekend, we'll get ready for that, we'll be well prepared and well rested, and really looking forward to the two home games. We've had two good away results, even though it's two draws, and if we can get back to winning ways then that will put us right in the box seat.

" Everyone is fit apart from David (Raven) so we'll assess him when we get back tomorrow and see how he is. People are knocking on the door today with fine performances all the way through, Paul Arnison, (Danny) Livesey and Chris Billy, so they've all performed to their highest they possibly could, if they hadn't done then they would have got beat by more than 1-0.

" Chris Billy played really well, his job is to spoil, keep the ball moving and make sure that he makes the pass off the front foot, and I thought he did that. Along with everybody else though I thought that they did their job really, really well, and I'm just disappointed for them that they didn't go 90 minutes without conceding. "