Chris Beech says his Carlisle United side will never be “boring” – because fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
The head coach is hoping the Blues can get a first win of 2021/22 on the board at Swindon Town today.
The game at the County Ground (kick-off 3pm) will see United supporters on the road for a league game for the first time since early 2020.
Beech says he has total respect for the commitment of Carlisle’s fans.
And he says that, while he is encouraging his team to be adaptable in games, he still wants the Blues to play a positive brand of football.
On United’s support, he said: “It’s a massive plus, it’s commendable.
“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, the line.
“We may have challenges within our groups, 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 have delivered over the last 18 months at home. It’s not boring watching Carlisle – even 0-0 [against Colchester last weekend], it wasn’t boring.
“If I’m being honest with you, I found the first half at Sheffield 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 that right.”
Beech has been assessing Zach Clough ahead of today’s game with the summer signing awaiting his competitive debut after a hamstring injury.
The United boss is likely to bring back into his side a number of players left out at Bramall Lane.
That should see the likes of Lewis Alessandra, Rod McDonald, Corey Whelan, Jon Mellish, Brennan Dickenson, Magnus Norman and Tristan Abrahams back in the mix to start.
Swindon, meanwhile, could include former Blues frontman Harry McKirdy.
Beech is looking forward to another good following from the Cumbrians support in Wiltshire, after more than 6,000 returned to Brunton Park for the season opener and 524 followed his side to Sheffield United for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup game.
“I did say thank-you last weekend, and I’ll say it again, because they were tremendous to the players, myself, staff, to each other,” he said.
“They were great. 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.”
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