John Sheridan claims Carlisle United can only turn their form around if everyone at the club sticks together.

The Blues are heading towards a busy period of fixtures which could determine their chances of reviving a play-off challenge.

Those hopes have been hit by a run of mediocre form which has seen them drop to 13th in the table, leading some fans to fear a more difficult second half of the season.

Sheridan, though, has demanded a “fighting spirit” from his players which he hopes can deliver better things.

United face another tough test this weekend with the visit of third-placed Colchester.

The manager said: “You’ve just got to stick together.

“When you’re not winning games, none of us like it.

“It’s hard for everyone, including our supporters. It’s just hard when you’re losing.

“You’ve just got to have that fighting spirit and try and stick together when you’re losing, and hope to come out the other end.”

While United will hope to improve on a poor home record this weekend, they face opponents who have been much stronger on their own patch.

Colchester have won eight games at the JobServe Community Stadium, the joint best tally in the division.

In contrast, they have chalked up just three away victories so far.

It will be United’s third consecutive game against top-three opposition, having lost at leaders MK Dons last weekend and also been beaten by second-placed Lincoln in the FA Cup.

Sheridan believes those sides are ahead of Carlisle not because of ability but their mindset.

He added: “I wouldn’t say Lincoln have got better players than us, I wouldn’t say MK Dons have better players than us, with no disrespect.

“But they’re top of the league and they’re there for a reason.

“They’ve got this desire to go out and win games, possibly more than us.

“That’s not me having a go at anybody, it’s a demand from each other.

“If I watch Lincoln, they demand from each other so much, it gets them where they are.

“It’s a massive miss in our game, and us as a team.

“We need to do a lot better regarding that.”

Sheridan will have to weigh up the fitness of a number of key players ahead of Colchester’s visit.

Having included fit-again Danny Grainger, Tom Parkes and Jamie Devitt among his subs at MK Dons, the Carlisle boss must assess whether any are fit to start.

Jerry Yates’ hip injury could also be a factor in the manager’s thinking for the clash with John McGreal’s side.

Sheridan admitted last weekend that Parkes, who came on for Yates in the 11th minute, had been reintroduced sooner than he would have preferred.

United, meanwhile, have learned their Cumberland Cup quarter-final opponents.

They will face a trip to holders Cleator Moor Celtic after the west Cumbrian side thrashed Unisun Athletic 10-0 in Tuesday’s rearranged second round tie.

A date for the quarter-final has yet to be confirmed.

The three other quarter-final ties are Keswick v Wigton Harriers, Bransty Rangers v Netherhall and Penrith v Whitehaven.