Paul Murray says it would be a triumph for all of Cumbria if managerless Carlisle United can win a record-equalling seventh straight game today.

The Blues will match their best-ever run of league victories if they see off Keith Curle’s Northampton (Sixfields Stadium, 3pm).

The feat would be even more remarkable coming at a time of upheaval following John Sheridan’s recent resignation.

Joint caretakers Murray and Tommy Wright are also hoping for more success to boost their own credentials for the job on a longer-term basis.

On the prospect of seven-in-a-row, Murray said: “It’s a fantastic carrot for me and Tommy.

“What a fantastic feat if we do go down to Northampton and get seven wins on the bounce.

“We’re going there not to get beat, whatever we come away with, but if we can do that it would be fantastic for the whole of Cumbria.”

New loan striker Connor Simpson will be in a squad which Murray says has responded well in the days after Sheridan’s departure.

United must make one enforced change with Ashley Nadesan having returned to Fleetwood.

The Cumbrian coach added: “Even prior to [Sheridan leaving] things were going brilliantly well and we’ve just continued the same since.

“It’s a feel-good factor, the lads are feeling it, everyone from top to bottom at the club is happy and buzzing at the moment.

“There are little, minute things that we might tweak but we have kept things generally the same.

“The lads, football-wise, went to a new level last Saturday and they’re playing with their chests out. We’ve got to keep that momentum for the whole club and keep people smiling.”

Murray expects Cobblers boss Curle, who was in charge at Brunton Park from 2014-18, to be out to burst their bubble this afternoon.

“There will be a bit of emotion with Keith being there, and he’ll want to put one over on us for sure,” he said.

“I think he was pretty well liked by the players and fans. I don’t know how it will pan out, or what after the game will be like, but we’ll be looking to put them to the sword and win the game.

“We’ll prep right like we’ve done all season, and we’ll be going for that seventh victory.

“You don’t get very many opportunities to break a record in football. I don’t know how many of the players have gone on a run like that in their careers. Get seven, and you’ve ticked something off and can say, ‘In my career I went and won seven games in a row.”

Northampton are 17th with one win from their last 12 in all competitions. But they are yet to lose at home in the league under Curle, who took charge in October.

“We know the stats - they’ve had four draws, two defeats and a win in the last seven, and they got beat [on Tuesday night to Bristol Rovers in the Checkatrade Trophy],” Murray said.

“He’ll want to get one over on us and we want to continue our run.

“It will be a good game tactically. We’ll probably be no different to what we’ve been doing - we’ve been scoring freely and playing some good football.

“We’ll do our due diligence on them. He could change it, we know they’ve been playing three at the back, but who knows, we won’t know what to expect until we see the team sheet.”

Murray also spoke of his pride in his current position at United, following two playing spells in periods when the club won promotion (in 1995 and 2006).

“Being born in Carlisle, and growing up in Denton Holme, it’s really good,” he said.

“This is my third stint at the club and it could be three promotions – that’s what I’m aiming for.

“Last weekend’s result was really good but the rest will be when things aren’t going swimmingly, how can we make the subs and change it, or come from behind, because that will happen and the proof will be in the pudding.

“But at the minute I’m very proud and everyone at the club is proud to get the results for Carlisle.”