Paul Simpson says Carlisle United must make the most of their big travelling support at Salford City today.

The Blues boss believes his side can feed off the sell-out 1,366 crowd at the Peninsula Stadium.

It is the latest major away support to follow United in League Two this season.

And Simpson feels it can be a positive factor for his team in the ninth-v-eighth clash (kick-off 3pm).

United’s big support at a stadium which is averaging less than 3,000 this season means it will be almost like a home game for United.

“It can be that – and we have to use them as well,” Simpson said.

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“We’ve got to make sure we get the enthusiasm and momentum from them.

“I’d like to think the players are going to have the enthusiasm anyway but the supporters can certainly help us.”

Simpson says United’s bumper backing on the road this campaign is reminiscent of his first spell in charge.

“I remember some of our Tuesday games in that [2004/5] Conference season, going down to places in Lancashire, when some of the support was absolutely incredible,” he said.

“I was looking at it on Wednesday night when I was sitting watching the game at Salford in the pouring rain – I was thinking, ‘Wow, if we get all that support in that far end where the Peterborough fans were, they’re gonna make a hell of a lot of noise’, and the players have to respond to that.”

Carlisle could move back into the play-off places today if they can prolong Salford’s run of five games without a goal and no home wins since August.

Strikers Kristian Dennis and Jack Stretton are competing for recalls to the starting line-up.

Salford, meanwhile, are likely to include ex-Blues players Elliot Watt and Ash Eastham, plus former United trialist Richard Nartey.

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Carlisle are seeking a fourth away win of the league campaign and a first victory at Salford’s ground.

Simpson added: “I don’t really separate them – I just look at form as a whole. I think if you want to do well you have to do well home and away.

“The one thing I would say is I would rather we’d not had as many draws, I would rather a few had been wins, but that’s just me being greedy.

“I’m really pleased we’ve only lost the three games this season. We have to make sure after this weekend it’s still only three losses.

“It’s a case of just keeping ticking along, wherever we are, going out with a performance that tries to get us the win, and if we can’t get it, make sure we don’t lose.”