Keith Curle insists that he "fully understands" the views of Carlisle United fans who are against the controversial Checkatrade Trophy, which starts tonight.

But the Blues manager still believes supporters will back his side despite the fiercely-debated decision to allow big-club academy sides into the revamped competition.

Two-time winners and six-time finalists United face Oldham (Boundary Park, 7.45pm) in their first group stage game.

They will in October host Blackburn's Under-23s in their second group game in what was previously a competition exclusively for lower-league clubs.

Some fans of the Cumbrians and many other lower-league clubs have threatened to boycott games in protest at the introduction of Category One academy sides.

Asked if he sympathised with those supporters, Curle said: "Yeah, probably - I fully understand it, because of the success that competition has brought this football club in particular."

The Carlisle boss, though, says his team still needs as much support as possible in every game they play.

Tonight's game against Steve Robinson's League One side is the last of four successive away games.

Curle added: "I think our support shows that our supporters will not boycott - they travel, they support the club and the team.

"As I keep saying, they don’t wake up and suddenly go and support Carlisle United away from home.

"You're buying into what the club's trying to do, you've got a good understanding of that, and you're getting rewards because you're seeing a committed performance from your team.

"Likewise we need a committed performance from our supporters. Keep backing us - we're doing everything we can to make supporting the football club more and more enjoyable.

"We don’t know where this competition is going to go, but a trip to Wembley starts at Oldham."

Adult entry at Boundary Park tonight has been reduced to £5, while United's away travel group are running a bus to the game as normal, but a low crowd is still likely.

Curle could use the game to give fringe players an outing, but competition rules restrict the number of changes he is allowed to make.

This is despite bigger, invited clubs being allowed to pick from often huge numbers of young players on their books.

Those who could potentially get first United starts of the season include Max Crocombe, Russell Penn, Joe McKee, Shaun Brisley and Patrick Brough.

Curle added: "I owe it to the players that I don’t give shirts away easily.

"The important thing is we need to maintain momentum. I'll look at the teams and the personnel I've got.

"But it's an opportunity to win a game of football and I owe it to the supporters, the paying public, to make sure we put on a performance."

Jason Kennedy could return from a knee injury while in-form fellow midfielder Mike Jones could face his former club.

Jones said: "It will be nice to go back there, and it's another cup that it would be nice to go far in."

*Tickets for United's league trip to Blackpool on Saturday, September 17 are on sale today, priced £22 (adults), £18 (60+), £10 (Under-19). Carlisle say they have an initial allocation of 500 but can request a further 2,000.