Martin Allen Talks About The Match

Last updated : 22 November 2008 By Thetashkentterror
Martin Allen
Cheltenham boss Martin Allen spoke to his club's official website about Carlisle's 1-0 win over the Robins at Brunton Park today, Allen refusing to have a go at his players for their efforts in the game :



"I thought the team played very well. They showed good commitment and were solid and they are starting to look like a decent unit. That's two away games now where I think we've done well and could perhaps have been a little bit better in the final third. We are certainly not looking like a team that is going to get rolled over and battered. That's a start and now we've got to try and move it on, keep being hard to beat but improve the quality of our play going forward.

"We all travelled up yesterday afternoon and trained up here. Then Lloyd Owusu's young lady went into labour at six o'clock yesterday so he went by taxi and train back home and she had a baby this morning at half past two. It happened to me 19 years ago when I was in Newcastle so he had a long way to go, as I did, but there was no way I was going to stop Lloyd. I'm delighted that she had a little girl this morning and they're both healthy because this is a job, not life and death.

"When the players have a go like they did today how can you stand back and knock them? When they are committed and have energy and try their best what can you say because that's all you can ask as a manager. We have to try and improve that bit of quality but that takes time and it takes money.

"We were probably going to bring Elvis Hammond off but he was always going to have the chance to score a goal so we kept him on. One or two of the players are a bit older so it's difficult for them to play the full 90 minutes at full pelt. But overall it's a disappointing result but a pleasing performance.

"I remember my first press conference when we beat Bristol Rovers and how happy and jubilant everybody was. I said after that we would have to improve because we would not get away with that every week. Bristol Rovers must have had about 20 shots at our goal and we won 2-1, whereas today it was much closer and much tighter. We are more of a solid unit, the players are doing well and they are moving in the right direction.

"We are trying to improve it but it takes time. Last Saturday after the Hereford game I didn't sleep very well but tonight I will be fine because I can see and feel it heading in the right direction. We've had a lot of changes in a short time and a lot of injuries but we are looking more solid. We had a clean sheet in the week and were close to one again today. If they keep going like that, with that attitude, self belief and confidence we will start to win games."