'Sick of hearing it' - Carlisle United boss's message

The Blues boss says his side too often find themselves chasing – and it’s costing them.

Some revealing stats highlight this aspect of United’s struggles so far in the 2023/24 campaign.

They have only scored four first-half goals in their 20 games in all competitions so far.

And the Cumbrians have only held the lead for 94 minutes in 1,800 minutes of football.

United’s 3-1 defeat at Leyton Orient last weekend was the latest example of the side failing to seize the initiative.

They return to league action this Saturday when Bristol Rovers visit Brunton Park.

Simpson wants a front-foot approach and said: “We’re chasing games, and we’re going to have to start being brave enough to start from the first whistle.

United lost the initiative against Orient in last weekend's game (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“I’m getting sick and tired of going in the changing room and hearing them saying, ‘What a good warm-up, well done, take it into the game,’ and we only start when we’re 1-0 down.

“If you do that you’re going to come away with nothing a lot of the times.”

Carlisle resume a battle for survival in the third tier this weekend against Bristol Rovers.

United are in the relegation zone in 21st place ahead of the clash with a Pirates side under caretaker boss Andy Mangan following Joey Barton’s recent dismissal.

Rovers are 15th in the table and last weekend chalked up a 7-2 victory in the FA Cup over non-league side Whitby Town.

Simpson said some of the flaws on show at Orient must be eradicated.

“We can’t keep doing the things we’re doing,” he added.

“I’ve talked all season about working hard to stop crosses, and we didn’t work hard enough on Saturday at a time when we had some real momentum at 1-1.

“Then we allowed a striker to come across the far post and get inside our outside centre-half.

“It’s all those fine details that if we don’t get them right, we’re getting punished, and we’re getting punished week-in, week-out.”