History-maker Omari Patrick admitted it was a "buzz" to help Carlisle United to victory in front of fans again.

The Blues frontman was the first EFL player to find the net in front of a crowd since March because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

He opened the scoring at Saturday’s “test event” when Carlisle beat Southend 2-0 in front of 1,000 supporters.

And the 24-year-old said the presence of some of United’s supporters made a big difference to the Blues.

Patrick said: “I think that was the best part about it – having the fans here, hearing them before kick-off, it gives you that buzz again.

“Without having fans last week, we missed them a lot. I definitely think it gave us a boost. 

“It just shows how important they are to us when we’re playing. We need them. As well as ourselves wanting to do well, it definitely gives us that extra boost.”

Patrick was one of the last EFL players to score in front of a crowd when he and Joshua Kayode found the net against Newport on March 10.

The pair were both again on target when fans returned to Carlisle’s ground for the first time in six months.

Former Bradford man Patrick turned in a positive performance as part of a dangerous front three that involved Kayode and the impressive Gime Toure.

Patrick believes there is plenty more to come from the attacking unit as they develop an understanding.

He said: “It was our first time playing together last week in a proper game.

“We all know what we can do, we see it in training, and it’s just that transformation into a game.

“Saturday was a lot better than it was last week. We will keep getting used to playing with each other and gelling.

“Gime was excellent. He raises the bar for me and JJ [Kayode], who was excellent as well.

“Gime’s performance, him getting man of the match, it raises us; when we see each other do well as a front three it definitely boosts us. 

“As soon as we get that [extra understanding], it will build and build and build. We’ll just keep getting better. We all want each other to score and do well.

“It’s a really good partnership we have up there, and it’s the same at the back with Aaron [Hayden] and Rod [McDonald]; they’re getting used to playing with each other as well and on Saturday they were excellent.”

Patrick’s deflected 36th-minute goal was quickly followed by Kayode’s strike and it means all three frontmen are now off the mark in 2020/21.

The pacy former Wrexham loan man, who joined the Cumbrians in January and now has three goals in nine appearances, said the display was something Carlisle can build on after a previous run of three defeats.

“I think there was a bit of pressure on us at the start of the game, especially with the fans being back and us wanting to do so well,” Patrick said.

“We relaxed once we got ourselves into the game more, and the first goal obviously helps with that. Once we’d scored the pressure was off a little bit, and we knew we just needed to go and do what we know we can. 

“In the first couple of games we were going in at half time already 2-0 down and we didn’t want that to happen on Saturday. That might have been why we started like we did. Getting the first goal settled us down and I think that’s what we needed today.”

Patrick admitted his opening goal had resulted from training-ground work and the advice of boss Chris Beech.

It came when the frontman dropped outside the box to pick up a corner that had been cleared.

“We actually worked on it in training on Friday and it was falling to me then, so I knew if it happened [on Saturday] I just needed to do the same. It’s always pleasing when something you work on in training comes off in a match.

“I did have a bit of a conversation with the gaffer when he told me he wanted me to be outside the box on corners, because I obviously want to be in the middle of things trying to score. Me scoring like I did just proved him right I suppose!

“It’s a massive relief off your shoulders when you score. It’s good to get off the mark early in the season and there’s hopefully many more to come. I was just talking to JJ about it being déjà vu from our last home game, we both scored in that game against Newport and my header took a deflection as well.

“It does mean a lot to score. The team the gaffer has put together this year all want to do so well for each other and the club. I think that’s why it’s taken us a couple of games to get going; we all want to do so well that we’ve been a little bit tense. Now that we’ve got the first win I think we can build on it."

Patrick was, though, honest about his own display and said he can still improve.

He said: “If you ask anyone in the group, we all know we’ve got so much more to give. It’s exciting to know that we can play like that without really being happy with ourselves and still win the game.

“I’m not really happy with the way I played, but we got the three points and I got a goal, and I just want to keep building. 

“When I came off I said although I’ve scored I don’t feel like I’ve played really well. There’s definitely room for improvement in everybody’s performances. 

“Even after losing the last two games, the dressing room was still raring to go and excited for games, but this win will give us confidence. We’ll all keep pushing each other to do well because we know what we’re all capable of.”

Patrick, meanwhile, is glad to be back to fitness after missing most of United’s friendlies because of a minor hamstring problem.

He returned in the 3-0 defeat to Cambridge. Patrick said: “I missed all the pre-season games, but I feel alright.

“I feel like I need to get my level back up there to match fitness but, like the gaffer says, give me 60 minutes and then people like Ethan [Walker] and other people can come on and help out the team.

“At the moment I feel ok, slowly getting back into it.”