Matt Robson on scoring with his head
Wide man Matt Robson spoke to us about his goal and the much-needed three points on Saturday evening.
“Headers are my forte, as we all know,” he joked.
“Seriously, though, I’ve worked hard the last season-and-a-half on getting in and around the box more. Luckily it landed for me and I thought I had nothing else to do but just try and guide it at the goal.
“From where I was, behind the ball, I was just thinking – go on then, is it in? I looked at the linesman, because I wasn’t sure, but I spoke to Lee Miller and he said it was a good yard over the line at least. I have to say, it was a massive release when the goal was given.”
“From there we defended tremendously all game and I think Mark [Gillespie] has only had one or two saves to make,” he said. “I don’t think they threatened us too much at all. Getting ahead at home is massive and I didn’t think it looked like they were ever going to score because we defended so solidly.
“They might have had a lot of possession but the stat that matters is one goal to nil. We worked hard for that result and everyone can go away with a smile on their face. We haven’t been able to say that for a good few weeks because we’ve been leaving here feeling depressed about the results.
“Hopefully we can start putting a run together again. The good thing is that we have stopped the heavy defeats and we’ve started to edge the goal difference back. The focus is on us doing more of that next week.”
“Like I say, it was overjoyed emotions [when the goal was given] because it’s been one of the toughest weeks in my career,” he admitted. “Four years ago I was going nowhere until the gaffer brought me over here.
“If it wasn’t for him last summer I don’t think I would still be here. We respected each other and for him to come across and see me and Emma, to talk about the future and staying with Carlisle, was a big thing for us. I owe him a lot. That shows the kind of guy he is and I hope he’s back in football quickly.”
“This is where you have to professional,” he continued. “I think Kav and Davie [Irons] understood that Monday was always going to be a tough day. The lads grafted and put the work in and you have to do what you can to get your mindset right as quickly as possible. Training this week has been absolutely phenomenal and the unity the boys showed was really important.
“At the end of the day it’s our job to go out and put a performance in for whoever the manager is. Kav and Davie are in control at the moment and they tell us what they want. We listen and go and try to play the way they need us to.”
Saturday brought another snapshot of what the versatile wide man can bring to the squad as he moved from left back to left midfield following the first half Lewis Guy head injury.
“It’s handy to be able to play both positions – a bit of a utility tool I suppose,” he said. “I was a bit surprised to find out I was playing at left back but If I can do a job anywhere for the team then I’m happy to do it.
“That’s what I’m all about, blood and guts, so two positions is fine with me. I have a good understanding of them both and Conor [Townsend] came on and did a fantastic job. I thought we coped quite well with it all. It was a seamless transition when he came on even though the team tactics had to change a bit. All of the lads knuckled down and you get your rewards for that.”
“I think the word that gets used in football a lot is momentum,” he told us. “We can go to Stevenage now with our foot on the gas and look to take something out from it.
“It’s going to be a completely different game to the one we played today because Sheffield United tried to pass it and knock it about. I think Stevenage will be in our faces and if they want to go toe-to-toe with us then we won’t be backing down. We go there with another point to prove.”
United Player subscribers can see a video interview with Matt Robson now. Click HERE to go to the Player platform. Follow the same link for more information on United Player, and to subscribe.
Clips from the Saturday interview are available to see below. Click HERE to go to our official YouTube channel for more FREE content from the heart of the club.
