PRESSURE NO ISSUE FOR GREG
IF ARSENE Wenger feels pressurised at Arsenal he should try being Greg Abbott – although the Carlisle boss did stem the tide of defeats at Colchester on Friday.
Abbott is the third longest-serving manager in the country, behind Wenger and Paul Tisdale of Exeter, but three losses in the Cumbrians’ opening three games represented the worst start to a season in their 109year history.
Things appeared to be taking a turn for the better when Matty Robson fired home from 20 yards within the first five minutes.
But former West Ham striker Freddie Sears dented Abbott’s hopes of three points, though not his determination to see the job through.
“I don’t feel any pressure at all,” said Abbott, who took over at Brunton Park in November 2008.
“It’s other people who talk about that. I just continue to do my job in the best way I can. I’m able to do it much better when our best players are available.
“This game was all about working together and fighting together to make life as difficult as possible for the opposition.
“If you get beat doing that then you can accept it better than if you have just rolled over and given away a result.
“We still have work to do and the best way to win people back is to keep the good performances and results coming.
“The lads have set a standard for themselves now and they have to demand from themselves that they maintain it.The fans gave their players a standing ovation and that is a very good sign. It must feel better for the players to hear and see that so, hopefully, they’ll go after more of the same.”
The visitors took a fourth-minute lead when left-back Robson lashed home a low shot past Sam Walker.
Jabo Ibehre and Tosin Olufemi both went close for Colchester in the first half before Mark Gillespie denied Sears.
The Carlisle keeper could do nothing to stop Sears volleying home with 19 minutes to go though, and U’s boss Joe Dunne admits his side did all they could to add to Abbott’s misery.
“In the second half, we were absolutely outstanding,” said Dunne. “We scored a good goal and we did everything we could do to win the match.
“We were a bit sloppy at times in the first half with some square passes but what really pleased me was the patience of the players.
“Carlisle started well but I was really disappointed with the way that we started the game. But I haven’t got a bad word to say about my players.
“We said at half-time that if we kept passing then we would get opportunities. “The players are disappointed that they were unable to win the game and we’re due a big result with
the chances we create.”