We spoke to manager Paul Simpson ahead of the final game of the season against Derby County.
“It will be a fantastic occasion for them in terms of the crowd, but we also know we’re going there to do a job,” he said. “We want to try and put on a type of performance that we’ve shown on a few occasions this season and try and spoil their party. That is our only focus, and that’s what training has been about this week.
“Derby County was a big part of my playing and coaching career, so I’ve got really good memories of them, but I want to go there and make it a difficult day for them. I want us to try and go and put on the type of performance that we put on at Bolton and at Peterborough.
“They’re a good side, and a very experienced side. I think they’re probably one of the most experienced sides in the league so they’ve got some knowhow, but we’ve got to hope we can show a level of performance and a level of energy to lift ourselves because of the atmosphere inside Pride Park and what our supporters will do. We’re getting an incredible following again, and if we do that and do ourselves justice then hopefully we’ll get a result.
“It’s a game on TV in front of a sell-out crowd and those are the kind of games you want to be involved in. We have to go and do ourselves justice, people will look at the league table and expect a Derby County win, and maybe that’s why Sky have chosen to show it.
“We have a choice and an opportunity to go there and perform, work, and make life really difficult for Derby County.”
“We want to go and show what we’re really about,” he continued. “We have done that in a few games this season but the league table says we haven’t done it anywhere near enough. If we do that then we can walk away with our heads held high.”
With over 1,700 United fans making the trip, Simmo commented: “Our fans are incredible, we keep saying it but it is huge for us that they’re staying with us.
“There are so many positive things going on around the football club and so many things to look forward to in terms of how we want to go about it and how the club and the squad should look.
“We’re being given the best budget I’ve had in my time at this football club, and now we’ve got to try and spend it wisely.
“We weren’t able to spend the budget we had in January because players were refusing to come up to Carlisle, but we’ve got to sell them the dream and the vision of where we want to go. Hopefully we can maximise what we’ve got available and get the best squad we can to have a real good go at it next season.”
