Blues boss responds to manager of the month nomination
Mike Williamson has put all the praise onto his Carlisle United players after his manager of the month nomination.
The Blues head coach is on the four-man shortlist for the SkyBet League Two award for November, with the winner announced tomorrow.
Williamson’s nomination follows an unbeaten month in the league and comes despite the Cumbrians currently sitting bottom of the table on goals scored.
They drew three league games and won one in November as they produced a series of solid performances – much-needed after their previous struggles.
On his shortlisting, Williamson said: “I think the reflection is just purely on the lads.
“I think how hard they've had to work, and every day.
“The outside world doesn't get to see the input that they have and how much hurt they feel when we aren't doing so well.
“They’ve had that bravery and their courage to come in every single day, and they've had to graft to keep the clean sheets and to keep that unbeaten record.
“But still, nothing changes the situation and circumstances that it's still not enough, and we've still got to make sure our focus is on improving.”
Williamson’s rivals for the November award are Morecambe boss Derek Adams, Crewe Alexandra’s Lee Bell and MK Dons head coach Scott Lindsey.
United, having seen last weekend’s trip to Newport County postponed, return to action on Saturday with the visit of Chesterfield to Brunton Park.
On the accent in training this week ahead of the Spireites clash, Williamson said: “A lot of the messaging recently has been around transition.
“We watch a lot of football, and the very best teams in the world, how they play, how they clean things out, but ultimately the game gets messy.
“In transition, it's the team, for me, that are on that front foot, that have got that momentum and that understanding.
“So the focus has been on training with that bit between your teeth, training like you play.
“You're increasing your match capacity and your endurance, your capacity to be confident when we're tired and fatigued, and that's what we've seen from the boys.”