This weekend’s match at home to Exeter will kick-off a vital week for Carlisle United.

Steven Pressley’s Blues will visit Crewe on Tuesday - with the scheduled meeting against the Railwaymen having been postponed last Saturday - before playing host to MK Dons next Saturday.

Before that, though, United will welcome Matt Taylor’s Exeter team tomorrow, with the Grecians in decent form having lost only one of their last five league fixtures.

It would be nice to get more fans through the gate at Brunton Park, especially with the MK Dons game, for which Carlisle are offering various deals, coming up.

The crowd can make such a difference. Even when I have been walking around the city, there are a lot of people who are saying how delighted they are with Carlisle’s January signings, and how much they are looking forward to seeing them in action when they get the chance.

It’s great to see that the likes of Mark Cullen and Stefan Scougall have signed for United, despite interest in both players from other clubs.

Striker Cullen has had promotions with both Blackpool and Luton in his career, scoring what proved to be the winner in the Tangerines’ 2-1 win over Exeter in the League Two play-off final at the end of the 2016/17 season.

United still need to reach this season’s play-offs, but hopefully, Cullen has that winning habit. You do see players who seem to make a bit of a knack of doing it over their career.

As for the reasons behind midfielder Scougall joining Carlisle on deadline day, I think his relationship with Pressley will have had something to do with that move. I know the Blues are currently in the League Two play-off places but, when these players are turning down moves to League One clubs to come to Cumbria, I think that bodes well.

Over the next week or so, I’m sure there will be some strange results throughout the league but, ultimately, Pressley’s players need to simply take care of their own games.

Workington Reds claimed a 2-0 victory at Grantham Town on Saturday, and it’s nice to see the west Cumbrians appear to be turning things around slowly.

It seems like their battle for Evo-Stik Northern Premier League survival is back in their hands once again.

Despite all the positive news at the club at the moment, I was disappointed to hear winger Arthur Gnahoua might not play again this season after he picked up a hamstring injury in his 28-minute cameo on his debut at Port Vale on January 26.

It shows why you need a squad. It’s a timely reminder, with Carlisle set to play three games this week, of how quickly one or two players can pick up an injury within a squad.

Former United man Joe Thompson also announced his retirement this week after twice recovering from cancer.

People in all walks of life will have their moans and their groans, but what the 29-year-old has done to come back from the illness twice is incredible.

The bit I have seen on the news of Thompson was him scoring the goal that kept Rochdale in League One last season, which must have been a special moment.

I don’t know the lad but I would just like to wish him all the best and a healthy retirement. The lad deserves it.