Colchester United boss Matt Bloomfield says they will not underestimate the Blues and their manager who gives them “extreme value”.
Tomorrow’s 16th-placed visitors are in excellent form as they prepare to face a Carlisle side licking their wounds from their 4-0 midweek thrashing by Mansfield Town.
Bloomfield, though, says he rates United highly despite their three-game winless and goalless run.
And he says the Paul Simpson factor is undeniable at Brunton Park.
“We fully respect Carlisle, who are a very good team in this league,” said Bloomfield.
“They’ve got a really good manager with a huge pedigree in the game, which is of extreme value to them.
“We watched them against Barrow a couple of weeks just before we played Barrow and we’ve spent the last two days studying and watching their footage of what they do.
READ MORE: Simpson assesses 'hugely transformed' opponents Colchester
“We’re certainly not going to underestimate them in any way. They’ve got some really good players and are a really good team who have been going really well all season, so it’s a real tough game.
“I think maybe their recent results and a lot of games lately have shown that League Two is a really tough league.
“You can’t underestimate any game against anyone, in any spot in the table.
“You have to be really ready for the game ahead and we know we’re in for a tough afternoon.”
Colchester have been in excellent form recently, Bloomfield having bolstered his squad with a number of January recruits.
A win at Brunton Park would be a club record sixth successive away victory.
They face United at a time Simpson’s third-placed side are hoping to return to form themselves.
Bloomfield assessed the challenge of facing opponents who have just suffered a heavy defeat.
“It happened when we played Barrow a couple of weeks ago and now it’s happened with Carlisle, in that we’re playing a team directly after a result has gone against them,” said the former Wycombe Wanderers favourite.
“I’m not sure if that’s helpful or not – I thought Barrow came out fighting when we played them a couple of weeks ago and we’re obviously expecting Carlisle to do the same.
“We’ve done our due diligence on them and we know that we’re coming up against a good team.
“They might have taken a couple of indifferent results recently but we still know that they’re a very, very good team in this league, the way they move the ball.
READ MORE: Simpson's 'strong message' to Carlisle players after Mansfield mauling
“It’s a big pitch as well which we’re looking forward to playing on so there are plenty of challenges ahead of us for the weekend.
“In our own camp, we’re pleased with how things have gone recently and we want confidence in ourselves.”
Colchester are hoping defender Luke Chambers can shake off an ankle injury, but Cole Skuse, Tom Dallison, Alan Judge and Sam Hornby are all out.
“I think the togetherness and the team spirit that the boys are showing at the moment is absolutely brilliant,” Bloomfield added.
“I’m really, really proud of the way that they’ve knitted together so quickly.”
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