CARLISLE United boss Paul Simpson has challenged his side to emulate their performances against Portsmouth and Burton Albion when they face Cambridge United.

The Blues head into the clash at the Abbey Stadium against Mark Bonner's Us off the back of varying results against the League One leaders and the Brewers.

However, in these consecutive matches, the Blues put on strong showings, and speaking ahead of the trip to Cambridge, Simpson called for his side to maintain these levels

He said: "We can't keep fluctuating between what we had at Bolton to what we had first half at Orient and against Forest, we can't keep going up and down like that.

"We have got to find a level that we can stick to and I accept that there are times when players don't have great games and I understand that's human nature but I think the type of work rate the players have put in over the last couple of games is where we need to be. 

"Football is a running game and sometimes the harder you work the luckier you get.

Simpson also shared how he has had to reiterate to his squad the levels that are expected after seeing his side put on impressive performances.

He said: "I have had to say that a few times to be honest, even if it has been in patches I have said that those are the standards you have to get to.

"It does make it easier but saying it and thinking we are going to go and do it and actually going and doing it is the big challenge and we have to make sure that we go and get that level of performance in the last two games and make it three strong performance and hopefully get a result that gives us to big results as well."