Toby Mullarkey believes Carlisle United can use last weekend’s dramatic late equaliser as a catalyst as they look to claim their first three points of the season against Hornchurch at Brunton Park.
The defender has settled quickly into life at United since arriving a few weeks ago and has already enjoyed his first competitive outings in front of the Carlisle supporters.
While disappointed not to take maximum points from the opening game, Mullarkey believes the 96th-minute equaliser against Yeovil Town can provide momentum heading into Saturday’s clash.
“It showed that togetherness that we’ve got as a group to keep going, keep pushing,” Mullarkey said. “Now it’s about building on it and getting that momentum going.”
Mullarkey has also relished being reunited with head coach Rob Elliot, having worked with him previously.
The defender praised the attention to detail within the training environment and believes that working hard during the week provides the foundations for positive performances on matchday.
“It makes it slightly easier for me settling in in terms of I’ve worked with him previously,” he said. “The attention to detail that he goes into with training and how he likes to do things... first and foremost, you’ve got to train well and then that leads into the game.”
Despite United still waiting for their first clean sheet, Mullarkey feels there have been plenty of positives in the defensive performances so far.
The centre-back says the statistics show United have not been giving opponents a high number of opportunities, with individual errors proving costly rather than teams consistently carving the Blues open.
“Defensively I think we’ve been pretty solid,” he explained. “There’s not really been many teams that have carved us open or created many chances.”
For Mullarkey, the next step is to cut out those errors while becoming more ruthless at the other end of the pitch.
He believes United’s attacking play will improve as the squad continues to build its understanding, with new teammates developing the connections needed to turn performances into goals.
“Goals will come when lads sort of gel, connect, click,” he said. “Hopefully that’ll happen this weekend.”
The 96th-minute equaliser at Huish Park has given United something to build on, with Mullarkey describing the moment as a potential turning point for the group.
“There’s nothing much better than that,” he said. “Obviously a last-minute winner would have been even nicer, but for us now it showed that togetherness that we’ve got.”
Attention now turns to Hornchurch, who have made an impressive start and will provide a different challenge for United.
The United defender is relishing the challenge this weekend and believes the Blues must match Hornchurch physically while maintaining the defensive qualities they have shown so far.
“It’s obviously matching them for that physicality but as defenders, that’s what you pride yourself on,” Mullarkey explained. “Being in those physical battles, that’s what you want.”
With a busy period of fixtures approaching, Mullarkey knows how important a first home win would be – particularly in front of the Brunton Park crowd.
He has already been impressed by the support he received from United fans during his first competitive appearance and is calling on them to get behind the team again.
“It’d be massive,” he said. “They were unbelievable with their support, so for us we’re going to need them again and hopefully we can go and give them the three points and then build from there.”
