Mark Hughes has urged Carlisle United fans not to get “too emotional” about their recent defeats as they look to bounce back tonight.
The Blues host Hartlepool United (Brunton Park, 7.45pm) as they aim to respond to back-to-back losses.
Hughes says United are endeavouring to “regroup” after the setbacks against York City and Rochdale.
But he also urged against any overreaction to his team’s last two outings.
“Everyone just needs to calm down a little bit and not get too emotional about it,” Hughes said.
“[Saturday] was our the first defeat at home for a long time, so predominantly we've been very strong here.
“We just need to pick ourselves up and have a better performance and understand how you can affect good opposition in a more selective way and a better way. At the moment we're struggling with that aspect of our play.”
Fourth-placed Carlisle need a win against Simon Grayson’s Monkey Hangers, who are ninth, in order to remain in close touch with the National League pacesetters.
Hughes, on Saturday, suggested midfielder Harvey Macadam could be a doubt for the game because of illness.
The head coach, on the improvement needed tonight, added: “It'll be another test, and we'll have to regroup and understand what we need to do better.
“We have to make sure that in terms of engaging people and affecting them in duels [that we are better]. We can affect opposition better than we're doing at the moment, so that will be a little bit of the emphasis that we're talking about.”
If Hughes opts for changes tonight then it could put the likes of Archie Davies, Jack Ellis and Stephen Wearne back in the starting frame.
Defender Morgan Feeney, meanwhile, will be hoping to make his second consecutive start after coming into the XI against Rochdale.
“He did fine. We needed his leadership,” Hughes said.
“We need [him] to step up now and start driving the team along with a number of others that need to step up as well.
“We’ll be better once he gets up to speed I'm sure.”
Tonight’s game will be United’s first meeting with Hartlepool since January 2023. Pools have won four, drawn six and lost two in the National League so far, and boast the division’s best defensive record with just five goals conceded from their 12 games.
In the away ranks are former Carlisle players Tom Parkes and Adam Campbell, while ex-Blues manager Neil McDonald is Grayson’s assistant.
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