Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has highlighted the “energy and legs” Carlisle United possess ahead of tomorrow night’s clash at Brunton Park.

League Two’s seventh-placed side are the Blues’ next opponents as Keith Millen’s side bid to escape the drop zone.

Weaver says his players have to be on top form against a United side bidding to turn their fortunes around under Millen.

The Sulphurites boss, whose assistant is ex-Carlisle captain Paul Thirlwell, said: “We have to be aware of the strengths of Carlisle.

“I thought they played really well until the sending-off at Exeter, which is a hard place to go.

“There’s a new manager, new impressions being set, and we have to do our jobs.

“They are hard-working, 4-4-2 at the minute, they’ve got some legs and energy in there, they narrow quickly across the middle and back four, and have willing runners up front.

“It will be a hard-fought win if we’re able to achieve it.”

While Carlisle are seeking a first league win in 12 after their 2-1 loss in Devon, Harrogate themselves are hoping to bounce back from defeat on Saturday, after they went down 2-0 at home to Salford City.

They have just one win from their last six league games but are just three points outside the automatic promotion places.

“We have to be positive, upbeat and go again,” the visiting boss told his club’s media channels.

When it was pointed out to Weaver that his side had only kept two clean sheets in the league season so far, he said: “We have to keep grafting. We’ve had injuries at the back and we want stability.

“We have to keep training hard. We also have to help the back four, alleviate the pressure on them.”