MANAGER: We've got to be fully at it

Manager Paul Simpson spoke to us ahead of the home game against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

The Blues will welcome the Addicks to Brunton Park for the first time since April 2012, with Michael Appleton's side unbeaten in their last five in all competitions.

The experienced head coach has tasted defeat just twice since his appointment in early September - and the Carlisle boss is under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits his side this weekend.

"I think they’re a really good side," said Simpson.

"I was disappointed for Dean Holden when he lost his job earlier in the season because he’s a friend of mine and I really thought he would have been a good fit for them. 

"Michael has come into the club and steadied it, they’ve got a really good group of players with some real talented lads. 

"What we’ve got to do is start standing up to those challenges. We’ve done ok, but the league table doesn’t reflect that because we haven’t picked up enough points. 

"This weekend we’ve got to be fully at it, if we’re not we’ll get found out, it’s as simple as that. 

"The challenge for us is to make sure we are at it. There’s been so much enthusiasm in training today, there’s been a real buzz about it. 

"Whether that’s because of the takeover or because they feel fresh after not having a game last weekend. We’ve got to make sure we take that into the game on Saturday."

Over 8,000 tickets have already been sold for the game, with both the home and away ends set to be packed - after a week that has seen a real buzz around Brunton Park.

"Credit to Charlton for bringing close to 1,000 fans, we know how difficult it is to get down to London so fair play to them for coming up here," added the Carlisle boss.

"I don’t do social media but from what people are telling me, the buzz that is going around I think everybody feels like it’s a new dawn for us and a start of a new era. 

"That’s the way we have to look at it, if we can get double figures and hopefully get the performance right which gets the result that keeps them coming back then that’s what we have to do. 

"To build this football club we have to get the results to give the fans something to want to come back for. 

"I know the Piatak's are looking at it and we’ve got the potential to fill this ground. If we do that we get bigger crowds which bring more finances which means they aren’t having to dig deep in their pockets. 

"I’m really looking forward to how we’re going to build moving forward."

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