Keith Millen says Carlisle United will “respect” tomorrow’s visitors Walsall – but insists the emphasis must be on the Blues’ own performance.

The mid-table Saddlers are the opponents at Brunton Park as struggling United aim for a first league win in 13.

Carlisle will also be bidding to avoid setting a new club record of six straight home league games without scoring.

The need for improvement is urgent as they come up against an 11th-placed side manager by Matt Taylor, whose assistant is the former Blues manager Neil McDonald.

Millen said of the men at the Walsall helm: “They’ve had really good careers haven’t they?

“They’re a good club, they’ve got them playing, they’re trying to pass the ball and play out from the back.

“I’m not saying they’re playing the right way – the right way is to win a football match and get the best out of your team.

“They’re in that sort of mid-table position probably where they could go either way.

“We have to respect them, of course we will. We’ll do our homework on them.

“It’s the level of performance that we’ve got to achieve – that’s the biggest concern.”

United are currently on the longest winless run in the EFL and must try to close the two-point gap between themselves and third bottom – and also ensure a five-point gap to fourth bottom does not increase.

Walsall’s form so far this season has been right down the middle – won six, drawn six, lost six – while they sit five points outside the play-off places under rookie boss Taylor, the former Portsmouth, West Ham and Bolton player.

Ex-United loan man Hayden White is in their squad, and Millen added: “From what I’ve seen on the videos of their games they look like they want to try to play out from the back.

“We’ve looked at the shape they play and the threat they have, and their centre-forward, George Miller, has scored goals for them. We have to be aware of his strengths and what he does.

“They tend to go with a 4-3-3 shape, that’s what they mainly play, so we’ve discussed that with the players.”

Millen said he oversaw a “sharp and aggressive” 11v11 training session on Thursday as he tries to improve his players’ “mindset” after their recent barren run.

But the manager insisted he would not be ripping up everything about United’s approach and the way he wants the team to play.

“I’m conscious of keeping our identity because when I first came in I was trying to think of ways of building confidence and belief in what you’re doing, and that helps,” he added.

“Having an identity to what you’re doing builds positive feelings and that has definitely worked, without a doubt.

“There is a belief in what we’re doing, and I’m very conscious of not changing too much as we continue to develop that.

“We’ve just got to get better at what we’re doing. I’ve said previously that we’re creating enough chances to win games, so that side of the game is something I’m pleased with.

“We always consider what the opposition do, so maybe we tweak things to deal with that, but it’s always up to us to try to win the game.”