Paul Simpson says Carlisle United must stay fully focused on the job in hand and not be distracted by other results as D-Day draws closer.

After another night involving some of the Blues’ rivals last night, it is full steam ahead for Simpson’s side as they prepare for Saturday’s huge home clash with Salford City.

Victory would guarantee a play-off place - and could keep United’s automatic promotion hopes alive going onto the final day, if Stevenage slip up.

It remains an extremely tight race to reach League One but Simpson is keen to talk up the efforts of his side so far – and the need for United only to focus on their own business.

“The message never changes, let’s just do our jobs,” he said.

“It’s a really tight league at the moment and we just have to do what we can to add to the 75 points we have.

“It’s been really good going to get this far and all we can do is everything possible to get another three next weekend.”

Carlisle can deny Salford the chance to overtake the Cumbrians this weekend.

While a win would put the visitors mathematically out of reach, draw would also put the Blues in a strong position to nail a play-off place, with Salford only able to go past them with a goal difference swing of seven on the last day should things end all-square on Saturday.

The fact United remain in the automatic running with 180 minutes of the campaign to go is also testament to their efforts, Simpson said.

“If we’d been offered this [at the start] that, with two games to go, we have a chance of automatic or play-offs we’d have certainly snapped somebody’s hand off,” he added.

News and Star: Matty Lund, right, says Salford are confident of their chances at CarlisleMatty Lund, right, says Salford are confident of their chances at Carlisle (Image: PA)

“We’re in a good position, we’ve done alright, we just have to keep going and finish it off right.”

Carlisle will face a Salford side who remained firmly in the play-off hunt themselves after a hugely dramatic 3-2 win at Walsall last Saturday.

The Ammies conceded in added time – only to grab a 97th-minute winner.

It came on a day they had Louie Barry sent off, with the Aston Villa loan forward now set to miss the Carlisle trip.

Experienced midfielder Matty Lund hit the late winner and has spoken of his optimism that Salford can make the visit to Brunton Park count.

Speaking to Salford’s website, he said: “They [Carlisle] are a good side, but away from home I think we’ve been brilliant as well so I think it’s got to be fully focused this week and concentrate on us.”