Firstly, I would like to say well done to all those involved at Carlisle United who helped attract 10,459 people to Brunton Park for their match against MK Dons.

Well done also to the crowd for ensuring their was a great atmosphere at the game. It’s a matter of opinion, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with Brunton Park as a stadium.

United’s “8k for MK” campaign saw them offer tickets to Saturday’s match, which the Blues lost 3-2, for £10 to adults.

I felt it was a real working-class price for working-class families. It was nice to see three generations of families at the game, both male and female. But I think we need to work on attracting teenagers back to matches because they are the ones we seem to lose a bit.

On the game itself, it was a shame Steven Pressley’s side couldn’t get the result to back-up the tremendous support they received from the bumper crowd.

I was in the car when I heard the team news and, when you hear Tom Parkes and captain Danny Grainger, as well as the suspended Jamie Devitt, are all missing out, that was a major blow. It takes the backbone of the team out.

In the first half, I thought the two teams were evenly matched. What Carlisle lacked in aerial power, they made up for when the ball was on the deck.

Even in the second period, it still looked like the Cumbrians could get something out of the contest but then MK Dons scored twice in eight minutes and, even though Hallam Hope scored a late consolation goal, United didn’t really look like getting the third goal they needed to get a point.

Carlisle also played a reserve friendly on Tuesday at Oldham - as two of my former clubs went up against each other - and it sounds like it was a good work-out for the Blues.

I’m glad Blackpool loan striker Mark Cullen managed to get some more minutes under his belt. He is still recovering from a stress fracture to his leg but, hopefully, the action he is getting at the moment has helped to bring him on some more.

United do look a little short of options up front so, if the 26-year-old can get fully fit and firing in the goals, that will be great.

Jason Kennedy has also made more progress in the past week as he continues to come back from pelvis problems. He came on during the defeat to MK Dons and was on the scoresheet in the friendly at Oldham.

It was a great sight to see the 32-year-old come off the bench against Paul Tisdale’s team when the whole stadium rose to him. I’m sure all Carlisle fans would like to see Kennedy back. Even if he is only three quarters of the player he was before his injury troubles, he’ll still ghost in and score goals.

Sixth-placed Colchester are the Cumbrians’ opponents tomorrow, and I expect that will be another tough game.

I would also like to congratulate Carlisle City who claimed a 2-1 home success over Ellesmere Rangers on Saturday to make the Hallmark Security League First Division Cup semi-final. Hopefully, they will make it through the final now.

I know some of the guys on the committee at the club and they put a lot of time into the club.

When you talk about volunteers who are dedicated to grassroots football, that is what the guys at Carlisle City are.