Manager Steven Pressley has challenged Carlisle United’s players to show the “hunger” required to go on a winning run.

The Blues will aim to respond after their 3-1 loss at home to early League Two leaders Exeter when they face Stevenage this Saturday.

Boro have not won a league game this term and recently sacked manager Dino Maamria.

Pressley’s men currently lie 19th, and United’s manager wants consistency from his troops after recent frustrations.

"Every game’s the same for us. Nothing changes. Whether we’re on the back of a win, draw or defeat, every game we have to win," he said.

"That’s football. Nothing ever changes that way.

"I said to the players, after not losing in two league games [against Salford and Scunthorpe] you’ve got to be hungry for three, four, five.

"You can’t be a team that wins one in three or two in five. We’ve got to do more than that. There’s got to be that hunger."

Hallam Hope is expected to return to the fold for United after being away on international duty with Barbados last weekend.

Asked if he hoped the 25-year-old would add something different to the Cumbrians’ frontline, Pressley, who watched his side lose 4-0 at Hartlepool in a reserve match on Tuesday, replied: “I hope so.

"As I’ve said, with the players we had against Exeter, we have to do better.

"Hallam has to come back and needs to focus and, hopefully, get back to the levels of last season.”

After Carlisle’s defeat against the Grecians, despite Olufela Olomola’s consolation, Pressley named Nathan Thomas, Canice Carroll and Jack Bridge as players who he felt did not work hard enough.

And he also defended his preferred 4-3-3 formation and he added: “We need to understand the type of team we are.

"We’re an intense football team, that’s what I’ve built here, but that’s not how we played against Exeter. We were much better in the second half, but still not at the levels I want from us. It was a disappointing afternoon.

"Harry [McKirdy] is the type of player that, once the game opens up and you can get him into forward positions, then he’s a very exciting player.

“I thought he made an impact and always tried to make things happen against Exeter, so that was a pleasing aspect. We need to show that we can turn things around.

"Words don’t decide that, it’s about performances and results, and we have to bounce back from Saturday.

"Everybody has to take their chance when it comes. We’ve got a small group and we’re working hard with them, but we need more than we saw against Exeter.”

* Carlisle United are looking for a ticketing, and commercial and retail assistant.

They say it’s a shared role between the ticket office, commercial department and retail department.

To apply, email enquiries@carlisleunited.co.uk.