Paul Simpson says he can’t wait to walk out at Brunton Park today – but that’s no different to any home game.
Carlisle United fans have rallied around the manager since he said he was abused by some supporters last weekend.
A big show of support since the Blackpool game has been appreciated by Simpson, and another is likely to be witnessed at the Northampton Town game (Brunton Park, 3pm).
And the manager says he will not allow a “minority” to tarnish his own affection for the wider United fanbase.
“I’ll be honest, every single week I look forward to coming out at Brunton Park. That’s not me talking rubbish, I really do,” Simpson said.
“This weekend is the next one I look forward to.
“The supporters have been superb since February 2022 – they have been top class.
“I don’t expect anything different [today]. I am certainly not going to let a very, very small minority who were the culprits last weekend cloud my view of what brilliant support we’ve got.
“I just want them to come and back the players, that’s all I’m looking for.
“Come and support the players, hopefully the players will respond in the right way, and hopefully we can get a result that keeps them all supporting at the end.”
United need a win to stand any chance of escaping the League One relegation zone ahead of the busy run of festive fixtures.
They start the day third bottom and three points adrift of the safety line.
While the Blues’ form needs improvement after one point from five league games, they face a 12th-placed Cobblers side on a good run of four wins from their last five.
Jon Brady’s team, who could include two ex-Blues in Patrick Brough and Jack Sowerby, have shown the value of stringing a quick sequence of results together but Simpson – who could be without Owen Moxon (hip) today – says Carlisle must not look beyond this afternoon.
“It's about finding the first win,” he said. “To get on a run you have to do the first one.
“I always say the first goal of your season’s important. Now, because of the run we’re on, we need to get that first win to give you a chance of two consecutive wins, then three.
“Let’s start by focusing on one, trying to get the result this weekend that gives everybody a lift, makes everybody’s weekend better, takes everyone into the 23rd which is the proper start of those Christmas fixtures.”
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