Chris Beech says ending the last unbeaten home record in the country would be an added bonus for Carlisle United today.

The Blues are bidding to become the first away League Two side to beat Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium in the 2020/21 campaign (kick-off 3pm).

The Ammies have won seven and drawn seven in the league so far - and are the only side in all four divisions yet to lose on home soil.

Their last home league defeat came as far back as February 22 last year, when Colchester beat the Moor Lane outfit weeks before Covid-19 curtailed the 2019/20 campaign.

Beech said United’s focus is on ensuring their standards are as high as possible as they seek a return to winning ways this afternoon.

Should they inflict a rare home setback on Richie Wellens’ side it would be an additional achievement, the head coach said.

“It’s an extra to what you’re trying to achieve anyway,” the Blues boss said.

“To keep it simplified, we’ve got to look to respond to our last result [Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Harrogate], make sure that we’re hard to beat, make sure that we put pressure on the opponent and make it so they’re not comfortable in their comfort zone, which is not losing at home.

“If we do that really well we’ll have a chance.

“The offset of that, if that [being the first side to win at Salford] becomes a statistic, fantastic. If it doesn’t, we’re still on a plan to do what we need to do in the remaining games.”

Today sees United’s first trip to the Peninsula Stadium after last season’s spring visit was thwarted by Covid-19.

The Blues beat Salford 2-1 at home in December and are hoping to overtake Richie Wellens’ fourth-placed side today.

United start the day in ninth, two points behind their opponents who are famously backed by the 'Class of 92' Manchester United legends.

It is Carlisle's second game back from a heavily-interrupted start to 2021, which has left the Cumbrians aiming to regain the rhythm that has taken them into the promotion race.

Although their most recent games have been separated by two weeks, United will be hoping to avoid losing a third consecutive league match for the first time under Beech.

Victory would take them back into the play-off places.