Chris Beech believes Carlisle United remain underdogs in the race for success in League Two this season.

The Cumbrians return to action against Oldham at Brunton Park tomorrow hoping to reignite their promotion push.

United have lost two and drawn one since their return from an enforced recent lay-off and start the weekend in 10th position.

Head coach Beech, though, feels the Blues have already defied the odds with their form throughout the 2020/21 campaign, Carlisle going up against some better-heeled opponents before suffering more postponements than any other side.

“It’s a little bit like being the underdog, or everybody else’s favourite club if you’re not associated with Carlisle – you’re doing something that nobody envisaged,” Beech said.

“That’s great credit to everybody’s efforts, everyone that’s supported me on and off the pitch, but ultimately it means nothing at this point too.

“While I remain respectful of every opponent we play, I really respect the sport we work in and can continue to work in at these ridiculous times.

“I understand our supporters and what they want and what they feel about their club, and that includes me, my players, even the chairman – you can’t get somebody who’s been at a club for so many years; it was here before him, it will be here after him, and it’s always in my opinion a supporters’ club.

“We just have to stick to our honest, hard-working traits. What will be will be but at least we can share it with values.”

United still have a number of games to make up on their rivals, as they prepare to face Harry Kewell’s Oldham side which should include ex-Blues favourite Nicky Adams.

Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat to Tranmere saw Carlisle twice lose a lead before going down to a late strike.

Beech believes United were much more like their old selves in how they set about the game but wants them to exercise more control to avoid being picked off by counter-attacks.

Tranmere boss Keith Hill said Carlisle’s style is capable of overwhelming teams early on, but Beech said he wants 90-minute consistency.

“Going on any journey or race you want to start well, but I also want to finish stronger,” he said.

“If you take your foot off the gas and step back at any point, you’re just [depending] on more luck factors – a referee’s decision or some action that may or may not take place from an opponent taking advantage or not.

“I want us to try and stay on it, but the big plan isn’t to knock somebody out in the first 20 minutes and not play for the rest of the game. We want to start very quick, very well, but we also want the middle and end bits to be very strong too.

“I think Tranmere were on the back foot as they were changing their shape four or five times in the first half, and they got their [first] breakaway goal in the defensive mistake we made, against the run of play.

“Omari Patrick’s dribbling on the edge of the box, the ball goes back to the goalkeeper, he miskicks it into an area in his own half, the bounce just evades Callum [Guy], Rhys [Bennett] doesn’t make the right decision on what he should do with [James] Vaughan, and the ball ends up spinning through to [Liam] Feeney who crosses for [Kaiyne] Woolery.

“That wasn’t a plan to Tranmere’s play, nor was their second goal, it just happened. We just need to control it better when we’re on our front foot.”

Beech noted that other goals United have conceded in their recent return to action have also seen his side hit on the break, including Salford’s leveller last Saturday.

“The goals we’ve conceded in these two games are when we’re in great control and ascendant position,” he said. “The turnover and all the goals are from long passes.

“That even includes Forest Green’s goals [two weeks ago, the penalty situation was a bit of a punt up front, drive into the box and penalty given away.

“Sometimes that just happens in a game but I would like to make a bit more control to it because it gives us more control on our results.”