Four wins from four games for the first time since October 2016 has put United within touching distance of the play-off places and, with ten games left to go, a continued run of good form should see the Cumbrians involved in the promotion mix once again come the end of the campaign.
Manager Keith Curle spoke to us this week about the importance of maintaining momentum at this crucial stage of the season.
“I always believed there was a run coming and likewise I also feel that teams above us will suffer difficult periods,” he said. “That happened to us last season and we had to find another way of winning games. That’s the challenge that faces other teams in the division going forward.
“At the moment we’re creating momentum and we have a changing room that is competitive and challenging for starting positions week in and week out. Praise goes to the squad of players who are backing the team which is going out and performing.
“There are players who’ve been used to playing, and who aren’t getting game time now, but they know they’ll have a part to play. There’s a mentality that they’re involved in it all and I think that’s important.”
“Other teams above us have games in hand, but we still have some of those teams to play,” he added. “This stage of the season is about the mental challenges the players face. We’re in a good place and the lads are enjoying the work ethic.
“We’re looking up and we’re chasing the pack. Last season’s mentality was that we were clinging on after a run of not being able to get a win, but this season we want to get in there. We’re all working hard to try to make that happen.”
Next up for the Blues is the trip to Exeter at the weekend.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Paul Tisdale and Exeter City as a football club,” he commented. “He’s been in place a good while now and we know we’re coming up against a club with aspirations to be in the top seven.
“He’ll know he’s facing a team which has momentum, and which still has that hurt from what happened last season. I think it’ll be a good game of football between two sides in good form.”
Click HERE to watch an interview with Keith Curle on iFollow United now.
