Carlisle United boss: We must play for pride and respect

The Blues head to Charlton Athletic tomorrow desperate for a positive afternoon after nine defeats in ten games.

Carlisle, who are 15 points adrift of safety, look destined for relegation but manager Simpson said that, whatever happens in terms of their League One fate, it is important they make the most of the remaining fixtures.

“Respect and pride, those are the two main things,” the manager told the News & Star.

“Because what's going on this season hasn't been good enough. We all accept that.

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“But we've got to get some respect. We've got to play for pride.

"And we've got to make sure that we, on the football side, try to remain as positive as we can to make sure that that goes with all the positivity that's going around with the other things inside the football club.”

• Blues backed by sell-out support in Charlton trip

Carlisle’s first trip to The Valley since 2011 pits them against a home side who have been revitalised snice Nathan Jones’ arrival as manager.

The Addicks are now 14th after a recent upturn in form, having previously been looking over their shoulders in the relegation battle.

“Well, they’re six unbeaten so he's obviously done something right,” said Simpson of tomorrow’s hosts and their manager.

Charlton are six unbeaten under Nathan Jones (Image: PA)

“But he [Jones] is an experienced manager. They've had some good results, they're very difficult to break down and to beat.

“So we've got to have to be on our game. Simple as that.”

At his pre-match press conference on Thursday, meanwhile, Simpson was in no mood to discuss some of the wider issues at Brunton Park.

The manager last week said he had been due to receive an update from the board on the training ground project.

Asked if any news had arisen from that, the Blues boss said: “There's nothing at all I want to talk about today, except the Charlton game. So that's all for another day, all those things.”

Similarly, any further talk of longer-term recruitment plans for next season did not get much of an airing.

“We've got too many games to be concerned with [talking about] that,” added Simpson.

“Yes, things are going on in the background. My day just doesn't involve training, it involves lots of things.

“But I don't even talk about that because I want to go into the Charlton game and try and do ourselves justice. That's all I'm focused on at the moment.”