Over 500 Blue Army members made Bramall Lane a noisy place to be on Tuesday night, and there’s no doubt the away end will feel the same again come 3pm this afternoon.
It’s been a subject that’s been covered a lot since the start of the season, but we thought it was worth talking about it with boss Chris Beech once again as we expect close to 300 fans to make the trip to the County Ground today.
“I have said thank you for their support, but I think it’s right to say it again because they were tremendous to the players, myself, staff, to each other,” he said. “They were great last Saturday. You could see the players playing with that vigour that they represented in the stands.
“We were disappointed not to get the three points because we played ever so well. To hear them again on Tuesday, there was a good 500 there against about 5,000 for Sheffield, but there was only one section of the ground I could really hear. It was excellent support; well done to them.”
“Having that backing is a massive plus, it’s commendable,” he added. “It doesn’t surprise me, because when I do get letters, or meet people in the street, or stop to nip in a corner shop in Carlisle or walk through the city every now and again, there’s a lot of respect and communication out there.
“I’m very thankful of that, the club is, and we’ve got to make sure we do our side of the bargain. We may have challenges within our groups, etc, but there’s one thing I want us to do and that’s represent that hard work and honesty that I feel the people of Carlisle represent.
“They love their football, they like a good, strong, nice clean header or tackle, and then want to see some fast, entertaining football. I think that’s something we’ve delivered over the last 18 months at home.
“It’s not boring watching Carlisle, even 0-0, it wasn’t boring. If I’m being honest with you, I found the first half at Sheff United pretty hard for me, because it was different to being excitable in the last third.
“But, of course, sometimes you have to do that, and sometimes we might look at doing that more often. I do know we have to improve our away record – I also know we have to look to manage games better, especially when we’re at home playing well and getting in front. We have to get all of these things right.”
But at both games there has been a negative reaction from a section of supporters to the players taking a knee – a gesture that simply asks people to stop discrimination of all kinds.
“If it’s something you collectively decide to do and represent, support means to stand together and be next to each other,” he told us. “I think that’s what that message is in its entirety. If we’ve decided to do it you don’t want to hear that, because it represents, so join it and move on, really.
“It’s more for the players who are playing for you, and I think you see a little downturn in body language, or something like that, because it hurts them, of course it does.
“I think Jordan Henderson has put out a statement, and things like that, so just be respectful. Just respect. I think that word should be used and utilised more.
“I listened to the interview from the Portsmouth manager about a transfer and he was talking about human beings and respect, so without going on too much about it, I love football and I want to enjoy it, so let’s keep it simple. If that’s what we’re doing let’s get on with it and do it.”
