MANAGER: We go to try to get the points

“Southend are very much a good side,” he said. “They’re playing with confidence so it’s going to be a tough trip. 

“We go there with nothing to fear and with the same attitude as we use to approach every other game. We’re going to try to get the points. We want to get back on a winning run and start climbing up the table, so that’s what we will target.”

“They’re a very well organised and combative team with good rotation,” he added. “They have good mobility and strengths, but we also think they have a weakness we can exploit. We’re going there to be very competitive. 

“Southend will have a level of expectation about this game because they’ve been producing a very good level of performance. They've got six or seven players who have performed consistently throughout the season.” 

“They're a bit like their manager, they're a little bit flash and a little bit out there, but they back themselves,” he joked. “I like Phil [Brown], I like the way his teams play and I like his philosophy. I enjoy listening to some of his interviews because he comes across as quite colourful.

“There will be a different type of pressure on Southend this weekend. They’re playing against a team who are fourth from bottom, so the home supporters will all be saying thank God we're playing Carlisle because we’ll be adding an extra three points onto the tally. 

“We’re aware that’s how they will be thinking and it’s up to us to capitalise on it. We aren’t going there to just roll over, I can assure you of that.”

“As I keep saying, we are fully aware of the situation we’re in but there’s no need for panic,” he insisted. “There are a lot of games left and points still to play for. 

“The way the Tranmere game turned on its head the other night is a great example of that. It’ll be interesting to find out if that causes a ripple, because the way we lost against Shrewsbury when we were 1-0 up wasn’t nice. For them to lose, having been 2-0 up, it will really annoy them. 

“There are going to be some good fixtures between now and the end of the season. There are going to be swings and turns in different directions but, if we stick together as a unit, we’ll get what we deserve.”