Upbeat manager James Tose believes Carlisle City have established themselves on the Cumbrian non-league circuit - despite their recent struggles.

Going into the festive period, City looked like they could challenge leaders Longridge Town for the Hallmark Security League First Division North title this season.

But a tough two months, which has seen the Sky Blues fail to win any of their last six matches, losing their last five, has seen them drop to sixth - some 18 points behind the leaders, ahead of hosting bottom team Atherton LR this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Tose, though, is keeping things in perspective with his City side now Carlisle’s most high-profile non-league team following the dramatic demise of Celtic Nation in 2015.

“Over a three-year period, we have done a terrific job, not just as a management team but the players, too,” he said. “Carlisle had no non-league team, and we have tried to establish ourselves in the area and I think we done that.”

Tose believes the unavailability of a number of key players, and their fixture schedule in December, which saw them start the month without a match for 21 days before two away games over Christmas, has contributed to City’s sudden downturn in form.

But when asked if he was confident he, alongside his assistant Jonny Allan could turn things around, he said: "Absolutely.

"We have players there, we just need to get them back on the pitch. There is no panic from us. We have just been hit with a bit of bad luck. 

"At the end of the day, it’s about sticking together.”

He added: “It’s been tough. There are no excuses, we have really struggled.

“Then, you think about maybe bringing players in but you only really want to bring in players who are going to improve your squad. You don’t want to bring players in for a couple of games and then, when your best players are back, tell them ‘Thanks very much, but we don’t need you anymore’. That’s not how I want to go about things. 

“So, we have got a couple in from the reserves.”

City will hope to get their season back on track at the D Marks Carpets Stadium against a side who have claimed just nine league points all season. 

Tose expects to have Ellis Pearson and Ryan Errington available.