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Carlisle Utd boss not ashamed to 'win ugly' against Morecambe

Last updated at 12:36, Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Greg Abbott insisted he was not ashamed to “win ugly” as Carlisle United cashed in with a hard-earned FA Cup replay win at Morecambe.
Carlisle action photo
Joe Anyinsah

The Blues were far from their best at Christie Park but clung on for a 1-0 victory after Joe Anyinsah’s fifth-minute strike.

The triumph saw Abbott’s side book a second round tie at home to Norwich, which will earn the club a much-needed six-figure cash boost.

And United’s manager said last night’s scrappy win was welcome after his team had lost at Bristol Rovers three days earlier after a more attractive performance.

“It was not pretty, but the key thing for our football club was getting into the next round and we have done that,” Abbott said.

“I am sick of people saying how nice we are and how good our football is while we have got no points or gone out of a cup.

“We have got through the cup tie – that is what it was all about. Everybody within the club will be pleased that we have progressed and we can look forward to the tie against Norwich.”

United’s clash with the Canaries on Saturday week will earn the club a £67,500 broadcasting fee with the game set to be screened live on the FA’s website.

They also claimed £18,000 in prize money for seeing off Morecambe at the second attempt, while gate receipts from the Norwich game will see their total second round earnings top £100,000.

“There is pressure on us in every single game we play because of our situation in the league and our situation financially within the club,” Abbott said. “So this means a lot to everybody.”

The Blues boss, who named an unchanged side last night, was without Peter Murphy after it was revealed the defender suffered a groin injury in training on the eve of the game.

The manager said the problem was not serious but admitted the long-serving Dubliner was unlikely to be available for Saturday’s League One game at home to Swindon.

Details on Murphy’s injury – and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s knee ligament injury – are likely to emerge in the next 48 hours.

Abbott, meanwhile, had words of praise for the big travelling blue army last night.

Some 1,171 of the 3,307 crowd were United supporters, some of whom were still queuing at the turnstiles when Anyinsah put the Blues in front.

“The crowd are taking the good, the bad and the indifferent performances along but they still keep turning up,” the manager said.

“They take the rough with the smooth but at least we have got the win for them and they have got the Norwich game to look forward to.”

Meanwhile the club reported that David Raven’s operation on his hip injury was a success in London on Monday and the right-back now starts his four-month lay-off.

First published at 11:37, Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk