Chris Beech says actions not words are needed as Carlisle United aim to put their cup woes behind them in this weekend's league opener at Cambridge.

Beech is demanding a much tighter display from his side after they shipped six in their first two competitive games of the season.

The League Two opener at the Abbey Stadium – played behind closed doors after a pilot event for fans was scrapped – sees the Blues out to eradicate the errors that cost them at Oldham in last weekend’s 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat.

Beech says he has made his expectations clear as his side aims to get 2020/21’s league campaign off to a positive start.

“After Oldham I wanted to play straight away, it’s just the way I am,” he said.

“I wasn’t happy at all. Not because the lads aren’t trying their best or trying to do the right things, but it was a severe lack of concentration, especially when you’d gone through it for 45 minutes the day before.

“The players know what I’ve asked for, but I’ll keep that in-house, because I like physical apologies not words.

“Training has been excellent [this week], but it means nothing. Ding, ding, the bell goes, game on, three o’clock, let’s go. Anything can happen.”

Beech has been boosted by better news on the injury front this week with Joshua Kayode getting closer to a return and Omari Patrick in the frame for a first outing of the season.

Dean Furman (hamstring) remains a doubt to face Mark Bonner’s Cambridge.

But Beech said he is “really excited” to see Carlisle make a positive start.

He added: “We know what type of players we have here and we know what we’re capable of. We have more available to choose from, so that only puts us in a better place.”

On the challenge against Cambridge, who could include ex-Blues defender Jack Iredale and Republic of Ireland veteran Wes Hoolahan, Beech said it remained early to be absolutely certain of what United will come up against.

He added: “Teams are coming together and there are still a lot of players out of contract, and that’s with the season starting this weekend. It’s quite surreal.

“I’m still talking to quite a few of the boys who are in limbo.

“I think the situation will change a lot over the next two or three weeks and it’ll end up almost like a car boot sale where people are watching you unload your car at six in the morning just to see what you’ve got.

“I do expect Cambridge to be very competitive, they’ve had a good start [in the cups] and their spirits will be very high. They’ll come at us full tilt, and I expect us to be at full tilt.”

Beech said he wants his team to be one that supporters can “relate to”.

He added: “The only way we can get that is by representing them with hard work, honesty, quality, and by having a will to succeed.

“We’re not going to get everything on our terms, so what do we do at that point? Do we roll over, or do we fight back?

“I want fighters, I want people who respond to setbacks, and I want people who can set and demand a high standard.”