Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor is targeting an improvement to his side’s recent home fortunes against Carlisle United.
This weekend’s opponents have only won one of their last five league games at the Memorial Stadium, losing the other four.
Taylor’s side sit 12th ahead of the visit of Paul Simpson’s bottom-placed strugglers on Saturday.
The manager has addressed the idea that taking on the division’s rock-bottom side brings a certain expectation.
“That’s a perception but it’s [about] three points,” said Taylor.
“It’s a home game, a home win, a home clean sheet. It’s everything that we want to look like as a team and a home performance.
“We’ve been short of that in the last few weeks if not month. so it’s important that we show that out there and hopefully the result will follow.”
Rovers are bang in the middle of the division with little fear of relegation and a play-off tilt looking a long shot.
They are 13 points outside the top seven, and 11 points above the drop zone.
While former Exeter City and Rotherham United boss Taylor, who replaced Joey Barton at the helm in December, accepts much of the focus is on the summer transfer window at Rovers, he maintains there is still plenty to play for.
"Three points is big numbers in terms of what you want to achieve and where you want to get to and the effect that it can have on the league table as well,” he told BristolLive.
“Then it puts us into what we feel is a good position going into another run of games that will take its toll.
"There’s so much to play for and if you start with a positive return in relation to those points then that goes into what’s next.
“I’m sure, fans, players and staff alike are just waiting for what’s to come next season and being excited about what might happen then, but there’s still so much to play for this season.”
Taylor added that his side must make the most of any “shakiness” in a struggling opposition on Saturday, adding: “We’ve got to capitalise on that and show no weakness and put our best out there.
“I don’t think we’ll be as fluid as we have been at times, certainly in terms of our attacking play but I do expect to see a slightly different ethic in and out of possession.”
Taylor has Sierra Leone international midfielder Kamil Conteh, who joined from Grimsby Town last month, back from suspension this weekend.
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