Carlisle United Football Club

“It was a hard game and we needed the three points after what had happened these last few weeks,” he said. “Everyone’s just pleased to get the win at the start of a tough Christmas period. 

“We started well and we got the goal with a good header from Troy [Archibald-Henville]. That gave us something to build on and I thought we deserved to be in front with the way we’d played.”

“I think it goes without saying I was gutted about the penalty,” he commented. “I haven’t seen it again yet, but I switched off and their player got into the box. 

“The ref gave the penalty and all I could think was the work we’d all done in that first half was down the drain. It was a disaster to concede just before half time but we had to forget it and get on with the job.

“I was sat in the dressing room during the break and I was just completely gutted. I was thinking about the fact we needed the three points so badly and there was all sorts going through my head.

“All the gaffer kept saying to us at half time was ‘get the ball to David.’ That’s a confidence builder for me because he wants me to make things happen. I knew I needed to get crosses into the box and hopefully help us to get a goal. 

“Thankfully Pottsy got on the end of one and I’m delighted he did. In fact I was relieved, to be honest, because I didn’t want the penalty incident to cause us to lose the game.”

“This was a good time to get a win,” he said. “Exeter was a tough day for us last week so to come back here and get a win is huge. We need to make this place a fortress.

“I always enjoy playing at home and I think some of my best games have been here at Brunton Park. It’s always good to play well in front of our fans.

“In a game like this one, with what happened to me personally, it feels even better to have set a goal up. It meant I could almost cross the mistake I made out. 

“I heard our fans shouting my name in the second half. I have to thank them for staying behind me. With the mistake I made I’d have had no complaints if I’d been dragged off at half time. Hopefully I paid them back for the way they were with me.

“I’ve played over 150 games in my career and I’ve never been at fault for a goal until these last two games. It’s been like a bus coming along. It’s two in two and it’s absolutely unbelievable. You’ve just got to take the good with the bad and I’m relieved I got through it.”

“The results have gone for us so the league table looks much better,” he agreed. “It was the first thing we looked at when we got back in the changing room. We have three very important games coming up now and we’ll take them one at a time.

“Morecambe will be amazing. It’s a derby game and anything can happen in those. It’ll be a huge one and it’s fantastic, like at Hartlepool, to play in front of that number of our fans. 

“I think I do still have something to prove to them this season. The way I started last season was a benchmark for me and I want to repeat that. Hopefully I’ll keep doing that in the next few games.”