Neil McDonald - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 20 April 2007 By Thetashkentterror

Blues manager Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria on Friday evening as he chatted about the big promotion clash against Bristol City at Brunton Park tomorrow, McDonald talking about the need for his side to keep playing with a free spirit :


" It must be the biggest game of my managerial career because we are playing second top, I think they have won four out of their last five away games and if they get three points then they'll get promoted probably. We're looking forward to the game, we've enjoyed this week again in training, it's been nice and sharp and nice and bright. The lads can't wait for the games to come along because they are playing well.

" The crowd have been fantastic this season home and away but this will put it on a different level hopefully. I hope it's a nice day and that there are a fair few come out on the day as well, but I think the tickets have been going well. It just bodes well for a fantastic game of football and hopefully three points for us.

" We had a little bit of a run early on in the season, I think we went eight games unbeaten but we drew a few of those. When you consider that we couldn't win three games on the trot for almost all of the season then we've come up with five on the trot, and it's an excellent opportunity for us to get the sixth. It's just reward for the players that have been putting the hard work in.

" He (Danny Graham) has done fantastically well, him and Joe (Garner) have formed a lethal partnership in scoring goals and creating chances for each other. They have also given us a new dimension in closing down and working hard from the front, so that sets us off when we haven't got the ball. It's a shame that the 93 days that we are allowed to have Danny is coming to an end tomorrow.

" Another pleasant headache is that Paul (Thirlwell) comes back, a lot of experience, he's been in top form before he got into his suspension so we are looking forward to having him back, and it strengthens the squad up of course. He (Karl Hawley) has trained for the last two days, he has come along quite nicely but he still needs match fitness because he has been out for a while. We'll decide late on tomorrow as to whether he is going to be involved or not. "


" I'm obviously very hopeful on other results tomorrow. Crewe beat us by five at home and I'm hoping they can have the same performance against Oldham, and then Rotherham (away to Yeovil) you never what might turn up. The pressure might be off, they might play flowing football and we just keep our fingers crossed but at the end of the day we have to look after our own result. Then keep our fingers crossed that other people slip up which they have done in the last few weeks.

" Over the last five or six games we haven't tried to find out what the other scores are and nobody has really shouted them, to be fair I would probably prefer not to know. If the crowd are shouting out good results then that's fantastic but we'll be concentrating 100% on the job we have to do because we are playing a fantastic team in Bristol City who are second and second on merit.

" It would be fantastic if we were to get into the play-off positions with two games left, it would give everybody a boost although everybody is in high spirits at the moment. The pressure is not really on us, I suppose if we do go to the play-offs then the pressure changes a touch but the pressure is all on Bristol City for me because they are a huge club in our league and they are expected to get promoted.

" In truth I suppose the pressure would come on us in the play-off spots but what we are trying to do is to just have a free spirit like we have done over the last five or six weeks. Play our football, concentrate on ourselves and what happens will happen, it's certainly exciting for everybody that's for sure.

" I'm a new manager and he (Greg Abbott) has moved up to work with the first team and we've been good together. We've certainly enjoyed it, we've had a lot of laughs and not so many tears along the way, we've learnt as we've gone along and it's been a fantastic experience for both of us. I think it just shows in the team, the team itself is growing up, it's got stronger and they are getting their just rewards for the very, very hard work that they are putting in at the moment. "