Chris Beech tells Carlisle United players to ignore "white noise" of negativity

United’s run of one win in 13 had attracted growing criticism ahead of last night's welcome 2-0 victory.

Head coach Beech, though, said it was important that he told his players not to be sidetracked by the flak that was coming the Blues’ way.

He also suggested those in the media who can “influence” opinion could act in a certain way to help the team.

Speaking about the effect of Tuesday’s much-needed win on morale, Beech said: “I just take inspiration off honest behaviour. If the players are playing and behaving that way it keeps me strong.

“That’s where I find my strength from when other people try and twist it in other things.

“I stick to simplicity. It seems to have stood well for me in my life, I’ll stick with that, and hope the players follow it.

“I sent them a text [on Monday] night, actually. Well, I’m not on the players’ chat – I don’t want to see what they’re saying about me – but I sent them a text through Jacob [Blain, United’s analyst] just to say, ‘We can achieve something, we are in a strong position, don’t listen to the white noise in the background that people are creating, concentrate on what we can do, but we need to win the next game before we can try to achieve anything’.”

United responded with an improved display as Joe Riley and Omari Patrick fired them to victory, sending the Blues back up to 11th ahead of their Easter Saturday trip to Southend.

Asked if the result had lifted a weight off shoulders in the dressing room, Beech said: “You’d be better speaking to the players [about that]. They do read and look into a lot of stuff.

“One thing you can’t critique this group of lads in this ridiculous circumstance we’re in and had, is for not [being] accessible.

“They’re bringing food in on Mondays for the local community. Rhys [Bennett] is streaming about mental health when we can’t play.

“They are accessible. Because of that access they do read and listen to a lot of negativity.

“Unfortunately in social media it’s massive. It does affect. There’s a lot of influences in that – businesses pay for influencers.

“We have outside, inside media where you can influence. It depends what you want to do.

“I want to attack the next 10 games. If you want to join me, join me.”

Beech suggested it is now a “10-game season” for the Blues as they try to finish the campaign on a positive note.

They are six points outside the play-off places as they bid to further revive their chances this weekend.

Beech insisted United should not be in with a realistic chance based on their budget and recent Covid and postponement challenges, but referred to Blackpool’s late charge four seasons ago as an example they could seek to emulate.

Blackpool made a late surge to play-off glory in 2017, winning at Wembley thanks to goals from ex-Carlisle pair Brad Potts, left, and Mark Cullen (photo: PA)

“In 2016/17 Blackpool had 50 points, had 11 games left, but they snuck into the playoffs, a certain Mark Cullen scored a goal at Wembley, and Blackpool were promoted,” he said.

“It is achievable, and something we shouldn’t really be doing because of where we’ve been. It’s all a bit strange, the concoction. But [I’ve told the players] don’t listen to the white noise but try and concentrate on the opposition and doing your job.”

United ended a three-game losing streak on Tuesday and also kept their first clean sheet for 14 games.

Beech felt some recent poor results have not reflected performances.

He said: “With a bit more luck we could have had more points, but what we’ve got to do now is look at where we are, look at what we are, and look at the facts that we’re one of the best teams in the league at playing at their home ground.

“We’ve got to look after that between now and the end of the season, and we’ve got 10 games to attack. There’s 30 points to play for, and we have to recognise that and take every opportunity with individual circumstance and give our best attributes towards that game.”

Beech said it would not be fair to blame recent setbacks on a lack of “confidence”.

He added: “It’s an easy one to throw at people. We were leading a lot of those games we lost, that’s not confidence, it’s just a lack of something happening within the game at a poignant part changes it for us and then not being able to deal with the discrepancy.

“That’s psychology, it’s not confidence to take ownership of that game.

“We’ve had dips, of course we have – the Morecambe one, at Stevenage the sending off affected the game early doors, we started that game better than them but then it made a major impact on the game.

“But in all the other fixtures we’re competitive and confident, but we’re recovering and we’ve got something to attack.

“If you’re being really honest with everybody, to be one of the lowest financed teams [and] to be in this position in the league is well above where we should be.

“To have the honesty within the group and opportunity to attack 10 games, I think we’ve got to jump on it, get behind it and do our best within it.”