Byron Webster insists he will gain more points for Carlisle United than he costs them as the Blues bid to shore things up at Scunthorpe this weekend.

The experienced centre-half heads to his former club knowing United need to improve a defensive record that has seen them concede two on average in each league game.

Webster, who accepted he was at fault with a header that led to Rochdale’s second goal in Carlisle’s midweek Carabao Cup defeat, has been backed by manager Steven Pressley to deliver more shut-outs for the Cumbrians.

The 32-year-old pledged to show supporters his full capabilities. He said: “Nine times out of 10 I just nut that away – it’s slack from me. I don’t know, is it over-confidence?

“We have away of playing that is trying to get it down, but maybe we need to remember we are defenders and just need to smash it away sometimes.

“I’m still learning – it doesn’t matter how old I am, I’m still grafting.

“I played at a club in Millwall where they told you, and at Carlisle they’ll tell me as well. It’s about me showing the fans, and I can guarantee that I will make more points for us than I cost us.”

Pressley has denied that he needs to make defensive changes and has faith in his back line to deliver better results.

Saturday's game could be an opportunity for Carlisle to end their four-game winless run with Scunthorpe bottom of League Two with one point.

Summer signing Webster insists the Blues’ recent performances have shown plenty of promise but knows they need to be less helpful to opponents. United have conceded twice in four consecutive first halves.

“We have to cut the individual mistakes out,” he said. “We need to get a few refereeing decisions our way too, but we need to try and take it out of the referees’ hands.

“We get a goal up, teams have to come and attack us, and we’re gonna cut teams up.

“Teams are giving us a bit of respect. You saw Mansfield who came and got so many men behind the ball, and it was sucker punches that got us.

“People know we’re playing well. Once we get the goal you see the attacking threat we have. We are conceding stupid goals and as a defensive unit we are so frustrated.

“People are holding their hands up, although it doesn’t make any difference. I took it on the chin [on Tuesday] – if I don’t mess up it’s 1-1 and completely different. We get another penalty, potentially, and it’s 2-2.

“Fine margins aren’t going for us yet but [they have] to sooner or later, because there’s only so long we can say we’re making individual mistakes or decisions aren’t going our way. We have to make sure they go our way.”

Webster this weekend faces the club for whom he made nine appearances last season.

He said: “Hopefully I get a bit of stick. My dad says they never boo a bad player so hopefully I’ll get a lot of stick and we’ll get three points.”

While Paul Hurst’s Iron will be looking for their first win of the league season, United are also seeking their first league win away from home since January.

Webster says Carlisle's players will keep the faith in the style of play being demanded by Pressley.

He said: “There’s no confidence issue. We have a way we’re playing, and once we rectify the individual mistakes, we’re flying.

“We are there. Results might not be showing it but we’re not far off. With the games coming thick and fast, we’re not getting a lot of work on the training pitch, but after this Saturday there isn’t a midweek game, so we’ll be back doing more on the training pitch, little refreshments, which is only gonna benefit us.

“I see a lot of it from past clubs I’ve been at, especially Yeovil, and this group is so close. [The way] we keep the ball might be frustrating sometimes for the fans but instead of lumping the ball we try to give them a bit of nice football.

“We might get it wrong at times but the manager won’t let us stop and we’re in it together.

“The fans are travelling in their numbers all over, it’s crazy. I think fans at any club, if you’re not putting effort in, they’ll nail you.

“I think, to a man, the fans can’t question any of us for the way we graft.”

Webster added that only hard work will enable United to improve their defensive record and boost results.

He said: “That’s all you can do. This manager from the day I met him [has been] demanding, no grey areas.

“For me it’s the best way. He tells you, and it doesn’t matter if you’re young, old or whoever you are.

“People know when they’ve made a mistake, and know when they’re playing well. That’s the good thing. No one’s hiding. The manager wouldn’t let you hide from it – deal with it, own up to it, whether a defender messes up or a striker misses a goalscoring opportunity.

“It will turn. The only stats that matters really is the score, but look at the stats – teams are only having two or three shots on target and scoring two goals.

“As a defensive unit we’re not giving many chances, but the chances we are [giving] are leading to goals.

“That has to change, otherwise we’ll just have to put 10 at the back and boot the ball long. We have a way we want to play and it will turn.”