Paul Simpson is eyeing some Christmas cheer for Carlisle United in today’s “huge game” against Cheltenham Town.
The Blues can give their survival hopes a boost by defeating League One’s bottom side (Brunton Park, 3pm).
United need to end a six-game winless run in the league in order to see off Darrell Clarke’s visitors. Victory would see the Blues escape the relegation zone thanks to 20th-placed Exeter City's 2-0 defeat at Cambridge United last night.
Simpson declined to describe the game as a “six-pointer” but did not play down its importance.
“It’s a huge game for us,” he said.
“Because of the start both teams have had, they’ll be saying the exact same thing for them.
“We’re at home, and we’ve got to make sure we make our home ground a better place than it’s been so far this season.
“We’ve had a tough start, and we’ve made it tough for ourselves, but this is a great game for us.
“It can really set us up for the Christmas games, set us up to take into Christmas Day, and it’s the only thing we can think about.
“We’ve got to do everything we possibly can to get three points. That’s no different to any other game this season – we’re always trying to get three points, we just haven’t been able to enough.
“So we know the challenge we face, and it’s a game we’re all looking forward to getting stuck into.”
Carlisle’s final home game of 2023, which sees Owen Moxon back from injury along with Jack Ellis, Paul Huntington and Taylor Charters, sees a clash with a Robins side who are two points adrift at the foot of the table and three below the 21st-placed Blues.
Cheltenham have, though, improved since ex-Port Vale boss Clarke replaced Wade Elliott at the helm and, after failing to score in their first 11 league games, the Gloucestershire side have found the net in each of their last nine League One outings.
“He [Clarke] has found a way to get results, Darrell,” Simpson said.
“He’s just clocked up his 600th game in management which is a hell of an achievement.
“He’s an experienced manager, knows what he’s doing, he’s got them organised, he’s got them playing a style of football that’s difficult to play against, difficult to break down.
“But it’s a game that, if we can go about it in the right way, if we can play the football we played in patches at Reading, at Blackpool, the way we went about the Northampton game and cut out the stupid little mistakes we’re making, we’ll give ourselves a good chance of getting a result and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.”
Simpson says he appreciates the support United will receive today, so close to Christmas.
“It’s going to be really important,” he said of the Blue Army’s backing.
“I applaud the fans for coming out in their numbers last week – I do know these two weekends leading up to Christmas are difficult games because of all the family things that go on, all the shopping that needs to go on for Christmas.
“Hopefully it will be the same against Cheltenham, and we’ve got to make sure our performance is right to encourage them to come back for the next one.”
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