We were trying to find a killer pass

Last updated : 25 August 2005 By Tony Scholes

Carlisle
boss Paul Simpson’s only thoughts were on that late, late winner from Ade Akinbiyi that cost his side a possible tie against a Premiership club on their first season back in the Football League.

“We felt as though we threw it away at the end, when you allow someone to pin you in the box like that you have got problems," he said after the game. "We said at half-time that the difference when you step up two levels is that the strikers will punish you and we switched off for a split second.

"At that stage of the game when there is only thirty seconds to go you have to be horrible and shut up shop and make it ugly, we didn't do that and we got punished."

Clarets’ boss Steve Cotterill was happy to see his side go through and also happy that we didn’t have to go into extra time. “We could have been here a lot later looking at some of the other results,” he said. “We are thankful to be through and I thought it was pretty similar to the Bury game last year.

“A big thing for us was the fans because even though there were only five or six thousand here, they were terrific because we came out and wanted to do well on the back of the defeat at the weekend and they had a lot of men behind the ball and made it very, very difficult. The fans though were with us all the way.

“We were trying to find a killer pass a lot of the time rather than keeping any momentum going so in the end we are pleased to be through. I think the lads thought the first goal had set them on their way because we had started the second half very well and were first to every ball.

“But we go the goal and then slipped into the mode we were in in the first half. It is always tough when you play lower league opponents because they run their socks off and make it very difficult.

“I thought in the end we deserved to win the game without ever playing well, but that happens and we’re just pleased we are through and into the next round. It was an important win and an important goal by Ade.”