Carlisle United manager Keith Millen has given his reaction to the tennis-ball protest which disrupted Saturday's FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury.

A small number of balls were thrown onto the pitch at different stages of the game at Brunton Park.

An anti-board banner was also held up in the Paddock, leading some young fans to be escorted from the ground by police.

Millen left post-match media duties to his assistant Gavin Skelton - who said everyone in the United contingent had been fully focused on the game - but the Blues manager has now given an interview to the club website in which he comments on the tennis-ball throwing.

“I wouldn’t say it affects the players, but it affects the flow of the game,” he said.

“It can affect delaying the game, which obviously is a concern.

“Once the game starts you obviously want to finish it, so any sort of protest that affects the game being stopped ends up with the referee making a report, and that doesn’t reflect well on us as a club.

“I understand the protests, and the reasons, but the manner of doing it affects the game. We had to stop and clear the balls off the pitch, so it doesn’t affect the players, but it does impact on the flow.”

Millen, whose team return to league action at Mansfield tomorrow, said he "completely understands" that there are "pockets" of United's fan base who aren't happy.

"But when they get behind the team it does make a difference, without a doubt," he added.

“I understand what is going on, but I’ve only been at the club for a short amount of time and I know it isn’t going to be solved overnight."

Millen said his focus is on creating a positive environment and that he hopes fans can see what he and the team are trying to do.

"The more we can all support them on the pitch, the better we’re going to be. The players understand their jobs, and our focus is all on winning the next game," he added.

“We aren’t in a good position, but I don’t talk about that, I talk about the positives we can take from the games and taking them forward.

“All I can ask is that the fans understand that we’re doing that for the right reasons, to get this club where we want it to be. The more we are together, the stronger we will be.”

United have yet to comment on the incident which saw some young fans removed from the ground after holding up a banner which said 'Get out of our club'.

On tomorrow's game, meanwhile, Millen said: "Mansfield are in a good little vein of form, I’ve watched their game against Doncaster, and they had an unbelievable following - I think they had about 3,500 there.

“They’re in a good place, they’re confident, it’s a nice stadium and a good pitch, so it’s a game we should look forward to. It’s winnable, but we need to be at our best.”