Michael Bridges Talks About The Game

Last updated : 27 December 2008 By Thetashkentterror

Michael Bridges
United's loanee striker Michael Bridges spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey after Carlisle's 3-0 home victory over Huddersfield, Bridges hoping that the Blues can take the good performance on into the Oldham game on Sunday :


" The lads have been giving me a bit of stick for the way that I celebrated my goal. I went a bit over the top but it means a lot to score back here for the first time, so I was delighted to get that. They had gone seven games unbeaten and we knew that it was going to be a hard task. The manager has worked on it all day, to be fair to Greg (Abbott) and Den (Dennis) Booth we have worked on it all week.

" If we are not attacking then it is closing down, Cleve (Cleveland Taylor) coming out and it going back to Ravo (David Raven), switching the ball over to Jeff Smith. Just being a bit more relaxed instead of rushing everything at 100 miles an hour. It has worked, I thought that we played some fantastic football and myself and Danny Graham linked up really well, which I was delighted with.

" We rushed things last week, we rushed it, there wasn't a lot of movement and to be fair we have worked on it. I can't stress how much we have done that, we have been going down the wings, crossing the ball, a lot more movement in for the front two. It paid off and I thought that everybody felt a bit more relaxed out there, obviously a goal helps, it calms you down and gets the crowd going.

" To come away with three points against a team like that, I think that we battled them all over the pitch and they looked like a very mediocre team in there, and all credit to the lads. Putting good balls in is massive but we have got to make the movement to create that opportunity. David Raven has put in a hell of a lot of balls for me and Danny this afternoon, as has Cleveland. We got the rub of the green today and I thought that we did really well.

" It is brilliant in the dressing-room, all the lads, to be fair it is the first time in my career that I have had Christmas Day off. That was all credit to the Gaffer, he has trusted us and the pressure was on us to perform. Everybody has looked after themselves and we have gone out there and done a job today, it could have easily backfired and we could have been made to look mugs you know in not coming in yesterday. It has worked though, he has given us the penny and we have taken it, but I have got plenty of turkey sandwiches to get through tonight. "



" We have got to go on from here now and perform down there (Oldham). We will be training tomorrow (Saturday) and then go to Oldham and we have got to come up with a similar performance like that. If we can keep passing the ball and moving the ball as quick and as sharp as that then I will tell you that we are looking good.

" The more games the better for me, I remember the first time around that I was here, it was five games before I got myself going again. I managed 90 minutes against Leicester, there was another performance last week against Northampton, not a great performance but you get the fitness working, then we come to today and I felt absolutely fine. So it is going well, the goals are coming now so I am happy.

" It is not going to be easy at Oldham, they are a good side, they have got the big lad (Lee) Hughes upfront, he has been on fire this season. We have got to go there with no airs and graces though and not give them any respect. We have got to win the battle, get the ball down again and the goals will come. I think that Peter Murphy to be fair to him, he has come in and he has done a job, we have kept a clean sheet. He has got a little bit more control and patience at the back and it was a massive boost for us today.

" We were 3-0 up and they were still saying for us to keep a clean sheet. Sometimes when you concede late on and you lose a goal, sometimes that can be a little bit demoralising in the dressing-room. To score three and keep a clean sheet, the lads are buzzing in there so let's hope that we can take it on to Oldham.

" It would be nice to move up the table, I didn't realise that we have moved up two places today with the three points, so that is another plus. There were a hell of a lot of supporters here today and it lifted the lads. We got the goal, they got behind us and it is good to see a lot more faces turn up. So hopefully we can keep performing and they will keep coming. "