Paul Simpson has urged Carlisle United’s fans to stay positive about his return to the Blues – as long as it continues to lift the players.

A 1,200-strong Blue Army is heading to Oldham Athletic today to try and cheer United to a third straight win.

Simpson’s return as manager has galvanised the Cumbrians and been welcomed positively by the supporters.

And the manager says the feel-good factor surrounding his return can remain if it continues to boost the team.

“I’m aware of it, I have people telling me about it, it’s a really nice thing – if the ‘Simmo effect’ people are talking about is helping the players, let it carry on, I don’t mind.

“It won’t change my life or make it any different when I’m away from football.

“But so long as it helps the players and they’re feeling free enough to go out and perform, then brilliant.”

Simpson’s 19th-placed side can go six points above second-bottom Oldham with victory today.

But they face a Latics side who are unbeaten in seven since John Sheridan returned to Boundary Park.

It promises to be a big game in the survival battle but Simpson stressed there remains plenty of football remaining despite the recent uplift.

He added: “Maybe the directors and whoever made the decision to call me deserve a bit of credit for asking me to come in here – it’s worked so far.

“But let’s not get carried away. There’s still a lot to do; we’re right in the thick of a relegation battle with a few other clubs. There are probably six or seven clubs looking over their shoulder.

“Oldham are unbeaten in seven and we’ve got to make sure we’re absolutely spot-on so we can get a result and whether it’s unbeaten in three with me back at the club, or three straight wins, that’s what we’ve got to be aiming for.”

Today’s travelling support follows a 700-strong backing at Orient and a 5,000+ Tuesday night crowd at home to Rochdale.

Simpson added of the fans’ backing: “They’re getting behind the messages I’ve given them but they’re really getting behind the players.

“I could ask them what I like but if we’d lost two games, they wouldn’t be there in the same numbers.

“It’s up to the players – and they’ve gone out and been brilliant.

“It’s easy to question commitment when you’re at the bottom of the table, but there’s no reason why that can’t be there.

“The opposition can stop you playing well but nobody can stop you from running, working, tackling and being committed.

“The players have done that so far, and we’ve just got to keep doing it going forward as a whole group.”

Simpson has played down descriptions of today’s contest as a “six-pointer” and added: “It’s the next one for us.

“The players are hoping to continue the momentum we’ve built this week, but we won’t get too carried away with a victory or too down if we lose.

“There’s 12 more after it, loads of points still to play for.

“Even if we were to get the victory, and put a nice gap between us and Scunthorpe and Oldham, there’s still a chance for the wheels to come off and it all to change.

“We’ve got to be really focused, prepare right and recover right to go and do the next one.”