John Sheridan says he won’t abandon his beliefs and principles as he tries to get Carlisle United back on a much-needed winning run.

The Blues host third-placed Colchester tomorrow hoping to halt a slide down League Two which has left them 13th.

United have taken one point from their last three league games and Sheridan this week said he will stop talking about the play-offs until they prove they can win games again.

But the manager says he will continue to stick to what he knows in an attempt to steer his side back to better form.

“When you’re losing games it’s hard,” Sheridan said.

“You’ve got to be strong characters, and as a manager I’ve got to be strong, stick to my beliefs and carry on thinking what I’m doing is right, which I do.

“I can talk all day to the players, and try and give them the right advice, but they’ve also got to believe in themselves.”

United’s final home game before Christmas will see Sheridan weigh up selection changes with Danny Grainger, Tom Parkes and Jamie Devitt back in the reckoning after injuries.

All three were on the subs’ bench at MK Dons last weekend, while Jerry Yates’ hip injury will also come into Sheridan’s thinking.

Carlisle are hoping to give themselves a platform to progress in the new year despite the uncertainty remaining over the future of some of their key players.

They expect to lose Ashley Nadesan in January while they are hoping for better news with fellow loanees Jack Sowerby and Yates.

Extended deals for defender Anthony Gerrard and keeper Louis Gray are also on the agenda but none have yet been confirmed.

Sheridan, who this week said he could target two new strikers in the transfer window because of United’s goals shortage, wants an end to recent frustrations.

Some of those were on show in the 2-0 defeat at MK, when United again failed to take chances before conceding avoidable goals.

“I don’t think any team has really outplayed us at alll, but when you score the first game in this division you go onto win the vast majority of the games. We need to go again in another tough game against Colchester and get back to winning, otherwise the gap will get too big and you’ll end up looking at the bottom end of the table.”

United’s youth team are at Bury tomorrow, kick-off 11am.