By Jon Colman

Last updated at 11:33, Tuesday, 09 February 2010

Greg Abbott insists he is not feeling the pressure of delivering a £500,000 bonanza to Carlisle United tonight.

Greg Abbott

That is the potential windfall on offer if Abbott can steer the Blues past Leeds and to the Wembley final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

But manager Abbott, whose side hold a precious 2-1 lead going into tonight’s massive second leg clash (Brunton Park, 7pm) is adamant he is not dwelling on the huge financial implications of victory.

The winners of tonight’s clash will face the winners of the Southern Area final. Southampton, who have home advantage tonight, hold a 1-0 advantage over MK Dons.

“From my point of view, it is just about winning the game and getting the team to a cup final,” the United boss said.

“For the directors and the owners, the financial side is important, and if we get there then I will be able to ask them for a bit of that money to strengthen the squad.

“But my side is the football side. It is just about winning and the bonuses will then come with that.”

Since the final returned to Wembley from Cardiff in 2008, all four finalists have pocketed more than £300,000 in gate receipts from their trip to the showpiece stadium.

With £100,000 on offer to the winners, on top of prize money from previous rounds, it means Carlisle have a massive incentive to go all the way after a difficult financial period at Brunton Park.

The Cumbrians will set a competition record if they reach the final for the fifth time tonight in a game which is set to draw a season's best crowd of more than 9,000 to Brunton Park.

Abbott could have former Leeds hero Ian Harte and first-leg matchwinner Joe Anyinsah available after both trained yesterday morning.

Harte has been battling a hamstring problem and Anyinsah is returning from a groin injury, and the Blues boss was due to assess both players today before making a decision on their involvement.

Leeds, meanwhile, are sweating over the fitness of Jermaine Beckford with boss Simon Grayson claiming the star frontman will not be risked if his hamstring problem remains a concern.

Tonight’s televised tie (Sky Sports 3) gives United the chance to settle an old score after Leeds triumphed against the Blues from a similar position in the 2008 play-off semi-finals. But Abbott has dismissed the significance of that game

“The play-off game is history,” he said.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk