Boss Steven Pressley has praised Carlisle United’s fans who made the mammoth trip to Ross County.

A total of 107 away supporters made the 530-mile round trip to see the Blues fall to a 2-0 defeat, courtesy of goals from Norwich City loan man Simon Power and Iain Vigurs, in Saturday’s final pre-season friendly, ahead of their League Two opener against Crawley.

“It’s amazing,” said Pressley. “I have said before about this club that we do have a brilliant travelling support.

“We are a club with big potential. For a pre-season friendly, to travel this distance, it says everything about them.”

Pressley, meanwhile, also confirmed midfielder Lewis Brunt has returned to Aston Villa. He had linked up with the Brunton Park outfit on a two-week trial period, with a view to a season-long loan.

“We were actually encouraged by the improvements that he was making,” said Pressley.

“But we just feel, physically, he is not quite ready yet. He is only 18.

"The one thing we don’t want to do is take a player off them [Villa] and not utilise him.”