Carlisle United Football Club

“This season has always been about putting pillars in place,” he said. “We wanted to set a foundation for how we wanted the season to pan out from the moment we got together in at the end of June. 

“That’s why we take every game as an opportunity to win three points and we look at every fixture on its merits. The attention to detail and the way we analyse the opposition doesn’t change. 

“We have to look at strengths and weaknesses and then come up with the areas we think we can exploit. The way we approach things now means there’s an understanding about the group that the importance of the next game is vital.”

On the York game, he said: “We will be well supported, as we were last season when we went there at what was a very treacherous time for both clubs. Neither team could afford to lose that one and it was a nervy fixture. It’ll be different this time because there is a different mentality in both changing rooms. 

“It’s going to be interesting to see which team sticks to their shape. The way York play means it could be a game of cat and mouse and a battle of formations. We have pace and power which we think we can use so, like I say, it’ll be interesting to see who does what. Our ‘goals for’ column shows us we’re an attack minded team, and we like to score goals, so I don’t think our wing backs will shy away from any opportunity to get forward. 

“James Berrett and Luke Summerfield are a competitive midfield pair but we’ve got options in our midfield which mean we can compete or play football. I’m in a results industry and I know I need to win football matches. To do that you need to score goals and, to do that, you need to take risks. I’m prepared to keep playing that way when results are going in our favour.”

Speaking about the current impressive run of form, he said: “There’s a maturity and focus in the changing room. That comes with good professionals who have a good understanding of what is required on a daily basis. 

“We’ve had a decent start and the building blocks continue to fall into place. That’s good because we want this to be a more rewarding season than the one we had last season. We’ve created a very demanding environment to help us with that. 

“We have a very capable squad of players and they know they have to demand performances out of themselves, as well as from each other. Everyone has to give us their best. I’m more than comfortable with the size of the squad and the shape it’s taking. 

“The players have bought in to what is needed and they’ve had a few rewards for it. Somebody once told me the best thing you can ever say to a player is well done. Let me tell you there’s been a lot of that getting said recently.”

On the injury situation, he said: “Dolly’s room is relatively quiet at the moment. David Atkinson and Troy Archibald-Henville are both back and raring to go. Troy needed more training time under his belt before we tested him in a game environment and that’s why we didn’t use him against Middlesbrough. Dave did play and he acquitted himself really well.

“Charlie Wyke is our only injury but he’s taken his protective boot off this week. Dean Leacock came through the Boro game and I need probably another ten days or so of looking at him before I make a decision. 

“The other two trialists have both been invited back and they have trained with us this week. We’ll keep monitoring them and we’ll see how it goes.

“The two Newcastle lads have settled really well. The first thing we did was put them in different changing rooms to make sure they integrated and got to know other people. It also helped their individual personalities to shine through. They’re both talented lads and they’re both going to have to work hard and wait for their opportunity to come.”