Paul Simpson wants promotion-chasing Carlisle United to do something they haven’t managed this season – and win three games in a row.

The in-form Blues are heading to bottom side Rochdale this weekend looking for a hat-trick of League Two victories.

Back-to-back wins over Newport County and Hartlepool United have put United within sight of the automatic promotion places.

And manager Simpson wants them to hit the three-in-a-row target for the second time in his second reign.

He said: “At the moment we’re hunting those top three down.

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“We’ve got to make sure we handle that properly and thrive on that, not get screwed up and concerned about it. We just have to keep ticking those games off.

“Our next challenge is can we win three on the spin? I’ve said this for many weeks – we haven’t done it yet. I want it to be as soon as we can, then chase four down.

“If we keep going with the attitude and belief we’ve shown tonight, we give ourselves a hell of a chance.”

Carlisle won their first four league games when Simmo returned to the club last season to steer them away from relegation.

Nearly a year on and they are a point outside the top three after Tuesday's impressive 3-1 win over Hartlepool.

Victory at Spotland on Saturday would take them into the top three if Northampton Town fail to win at Barrow.

Carlisle emphasised their promotion potential with a fine midweek showing against Keith Curle’s Pools, and now take on Jim Bentley’s Rochdale who are two points adrift of the safety line.

Simpson’s former club have won once in their last ten games but United’s boss says Carlisle’s approach must be right.

“Saturday will be a hell of a scrap,” he said. “They [Rochdale] will be scrapping for their lives.

“Their manager won’t accept anything less than that.

“We’ve just got to make sure we’re right. We’ve got to not give Rochdale any lift whatsoever, we’ve got to hang in there, start on the front foot, with energy, belief, respect them but go and really put them to the sword.”

Carlisle's four wins in a row at the start of Simpson's second reign last season came against Leyton Orient, Rochdale, Oldham Athletic and Northampton Town.