Carlisle United Football Club

“We will mention it’s a big following and a derby game to the lads but I think they already know that,” he said. “If you’re not looking forward to a game like this then you’re in the wrong job, to be honest. 

“Christmas is our busiest time in football but that’s just something you accept. You like to spend a bit of time with your family but it’s always in the back of your mind that you have a game to prepare for. 

“It’s something you get used to and look forward to. It’s a period where if you win a game at the start of it, as we have, you just want the next one to come quickly. There are a lot of points to be played for over a short space and it can move you up the table if you get it right.”

“We think we’ll see a different formation to what we were up against last weekend when we face Morecambe,” he said. “We’ve got to go there with a positive attitude. Hopefully we’ll take the confidence we showed in Saturday’s game into it. It really is the type of game we should all be looking forward to.

“It’ll be a physical game, but most of them are at this level. We’ve got to try and be mindful of that and make sure we are a little bit more physical ourselves. That doesn’t mean we go around kicking people, but we have to work hard and push them back as much as possible. 

“We’ve got to be mindful of what they do and how they play their game, but it’s about what we do after that. We have a good result under our belts and we now want to win back to back games. 

“Our form away from home has to improve; we know that. That’s what we’ll be looking to achieve in front of what will be another fantastic following. The fans made a huge difference last weekend and I have no doubt they will do the same again. They’ll be up for it and I know the lads will be as well.”