Steven Pressley says Carlisle United must not fall into the trap of thinking Crawley will be easier opponents because they have nothing to play for.

The play-off chasing Blues must beat tomorrow's 19th-placed visitors and hope other results go their way in order to keep their top-seven hopes realistically alive.

Crawley are comfortably safe from relegation and unbeaten in three games.

Pressley, though, warned the fact there is little riding on the game for the Red Devils is unlikely to be a factor.

“The truth is in football if you are a good professional, you have a pride in every aspect of your performance,” he said.

“You should have pride in every day you take to the training field, wanting to be the best player on the training field every day

“If that’s the case there isn’t a game where there isn’t something to play for.”

He added: “Crawley are unbeaten in their last three. Their most consistent system has been a 3-5-2, although they have gone between that in a 4-1-4-1 so we’re a little unsure as to what they will go by.

“Regardless, they’re a team with good ability, they have some dangerous players in Ollie Palmer and the likes of Filipe Morais. They’re a good side. It will be a challenge.”

Pressley is hoping United can produce a repeat of their two recent home displays when they beat high-flying Lincoln and Bury – rather than their shoddy away efforts at Stevenage and Grimsby.

The manager added: “The form guide would tell you no, I can’t be confident [of what we’ll get], but I will keep trying to prepare us in the right manner and hopefully find that performance and result we got against Bury and Lincoln.

“It’s a big game but no bigger than any of the others. We’ve worked hard on how we’re going to go about it, and will go with real intent.

“I hope it’s not the last game of the season at Brunton Park, because that will mean we are in the play-offs – but in our last definite game at Brunton Park we want to end the season on a high note.

“We want to put on a good spectacle, to leave good memories of the spectacle.”

Pressley remains without Jamie Devitt, while Kelvin Etuhu is facing a long-term lay-off with a hamstring injury. Danny Grainger, who today announced he will retire at the end of the season, remains sidelined.

United could, meanwhile, tomorrow face the League’s oldest player in Crawley’s 40-year-old midfielder Dannie Bulman.

Pressley said the veteran was a fine example.

“He is their captain and defensive midfield player and is a great example to a number of people,” he said.

“It is important that you look after yourself not only when you’re at the club but away from the ground. We do all the aspects in training, and in strength and conditioning to maximise your physical ability, but while you’re away from the ground you have a big responsibility as a player in looking after yourself – correct diets, correct sleep patterns.

“For him to be playing at 40 he must be doing many of those things. It’s a great example to us and he should be proud of himself.”