Blues boss Chris Beech is hoping for a repeat of Carlisle United’s previous positive showing against Mansfield when they face the Stags tonight.

United face Nigel Clough’s side at the One Call Stadium (kick-off 7pm) hoping to build on Saturday’s victory over Bradford.

The Cumbrians beat Clough’s men 1-0 at Brunton Park in December when a superb Omari Patrick goal was the difference.

Mansfield have struggled to maintain form since their initial good run under Clough, and have lost six of their last eight games.

One of their recent wins, though, came against leaders Cheltenham and Beech said he holds his opposite number in the highest esteem.

“Nigel, I respect him so much,” Beech said.

“When you watch his interviews I think he’s absolutely superb.

“You can’t get more of a footballing man than the son of Brian, to play Premier League football and manage like he has.

“We did well when we played them at home, hopefully we can do as well when we play them away.”

News and Star: United beat Mansfield in December thanks to an Omari Patrick goal (photo: Richard Parkes)United beat Mansfield in December thanks to an Omari Patrick goal (photo: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle are hoping to inch further back up the table tonight.

Victory could put them back in the top 10 of League Two, with Beech keen that they repeat the positive aspects of Saturday’s much-needed victory.

“It was good, but we’ve got to keep doing it now, we’ve got to build,” the head coach said ahead of the contest with the 16th-placed Stags, who lost 1-0 at Crawley on Saturday.

“We’ve been put in those circumstances [of Covid and postponements in recent months], I’ve tried my best not to hold it high as an excuse, but no club’s been put in our position, and we’ve got to crack on.

“We’ve got opportunities left to play games and we’ve got to do our best in them, that’s all we’ve got to do.”