Neil Harris says his Cambridge United team must be braced for a “fast start” from a Carlisle United side desperate for a turnaround.

The manager of this weekend’s visitors says his own group must start the game strongly to combat the home side’s efforts.

Cambridge sit 17th and four points above the drop zone ahead of the clash at Brunton Park.

They take on a Blues side who sit bottom of the table and 11 points adrift after six straight defeats.

Asked what to expect, Harris said: “A tough League One encounter, a team that’s fighting for their lives.

“A team that’s probably looking like, ‘We’re up against it, we need to win a game of football’.

“So we’re expecting what you normally get when you go to Carlisle – a fast start, they’ll be aggressive in their approach.

“We have to make sure we’re a really strong outfit, that we start the game well and we focus on ourselves.”

Cambridge have lost their last two games, against Cheltenham Town and Portsmouth, ahead of their trip to Cumbria.

News and Star: Ex-Wimbledon and Charlton striker Lyle Taylor has scored three goals in six games since his move to Cambridge in JanuaryEx-Wimbledon and Charlton striker Lyle Taylor has scored three goals in six games since his move to Cambridge in January (Image: PA)

But Harris felt he saw plenty to encourage him in their 3-1 loss at leaders Pompey on Tuesday, when the U’s took the lead before being overhauled.

“I’m not going to talk too much about Carlisle, Paul [Simpson] can look after them,” he added, speaking at a pre-match press conference.

“For us, mentality wise, we have to ensure we’re every bit as good as we were at Portsmouth, and add a clinical nature to the game.

“It was an excellent game of football, there was nothing in the game. We were in their faces and countered really well. On another day we’re two or three goals up at half-time. To concede on half-time was a difficult moment – it gave them that carrot to kick on.

“The disappointment is in the last two games, we gave next to nothing away against Cheltenham but they had one chance and scored, and against Portsmouth Jack [Stevens, Cambridge’s goalkeeper] has not made a save.

“We’ve been punished for giving the ball away near our own penalty area. That won’t continue. We have to cut out the basic errors as a team.”

Cambridge, who beat Carlisle 1-0 at the Abbey Stadium in October under previous boss Mark Bonner, remain without the sidelined Harrison Dunk and Gassan Ahadme.