United skipper Paul Thirlwell (PT) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) following Carlisle's 0-0 League One draw away to Exeter, Thirlwell talking about a point gained for the Blues :
JP
You must be delighted to be back in action today?
PT
Yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed it, nice to be back after a spell out and I thoroughly enjoyed the 90 minutes.
JP
How does your body feel after that or can you not tell until the morning?
PT
I am alright now but I would imagine after however long it is going to be on the bus after the unfortunate accident last night, obviously we could be a while but I shall let you know in the morning.
JP
A frustrating period having these injuries that have kept you out?
PT
Yeah it is, but unfortunately I have had a few before let's say. It is never nice watching the lads but we are having a good season and the lads have been doing well and it was nice to keep the run going today.
JP
One defeat in eight now, what do you think has been behind that run of form that the club have found themselves in?
PT
I just think we are organised and we have got good team spirit, results breed confidence and we are a team that is full of confidence at the minute and today we wanted to get back to, because probably if anything we have been giving the odd sloppy goal away as a team, it is no fingers at anyone, it is no fingers at the defence or forwards. As the gaffer (Greg Abbott) always says, we start up there with Lee (Miller's) defending and of late we have probably given away a few sloppy goals, but we wanted to get back to the basics and get a clean sheet and today we got that, it was just a shame we couldn't get one at the other end.
JP
What did you think when Peter Murphy went down with that injury so early in the game and you had to reorganise? Did you start to think blooming heck, this has started well?
PT
Yeah, it was a funny one, more so Murph with travelling all the way down here and then after about 90 seconds or whatever it was he is flat on his back and his back has locked up. It was unfortunate for him but I have to say that Danny (Livesey) came on and he was ready and prepared and did a fantastic job for us.
JP
We have had a fairly even spread on fans saying a point gained away from home is always a good point and some saying with the chances maybe should have got more that. What do the players feel after a game like that?
PT
Yeah, we came in a touch disappointed but it is a good disappointment if you know what I mean. I think in years gone by we might have lost that game 1-0 today but we were well concentrated throughout. I don't think there was any particular time throughout the game where Exeter put us under any sustained amount of pressure and we felt with the chances that we did have in the game that we could have nicked it, and on another day I am sure we would but we have been scoring goals quite freely of late and it is not going to happen every game, and it was pleasing to get a clean sheet.
JP
The weekend coming, it is the FA Cup campaign starts for Carlisle and of course the dream of clubs of this size is getting a bit further and pulling out a Chelsea, a Manchester United, an Arsenal in the next round, but you are that big fish for Alfreton next weekend?
PT
Yeah, definitely, we all know what the goal is, a couple of years ago when we went to Everton it was a fantastic day out for all concerned and that has got to be the aim again. But, the gaffer went to see the Alfreton v Lincoln game and he has already drilled in to us after the game that next week will be one of our hardest games of the season.
Because, it is a cup final for them and obviously the prospect of getting to the third round for a club like Alfreton is huge for us but even bigger I suppose for the likes of a Conference side. So, we know it is going to be a very difficult job but if we can go there and apply ourselves like we have today and like we have for 99% of the season then I am sure we will be fine.
JP
I know with the Aldershot and the Accrington and the Torquay games in recent seasons in cup competitions, I know that United have been on the end of relative giantkillings, with a game like this one though what is your experience of being the team taking on a much bigger team as a player, have you got much of that?
PT
Yeah, I mean you are bang up for it aren't you, you can't wait for it, you have got absolutely nothing to lose, it is a fresh break from the league and it is a chance for a giantkilling and the dream is obviously getting to that third round and getting a Premier League team, and that is what they will be hoping for but equally we are hoping for the same.
JP
And a new man in this week, Christian Ribeiro, have you been able to have much of a look at him? How sort of similar is he to the likes of Frank Simek and James Tavernier at right-back?
PT
Yeah, to be fair he just came in on Thursday and he has trained with us, a lovely lad. From the training we have done looks good, looks like he will fit in nicely and I am sure he will do a good job for us when called upon. Obviously, Tav has gone back to Newcastle now which is a blow, he has done fantastic for us but hopefully we will have Frankie back fit soon and obviously we have got Christian as well to fight for that right-back slot.