Keith Millen says Carlisle United must take greater care with the ball today to avoid being pinned back by leaders Forest Green Rovers.

The Blues put their five-game unbeaten League Two run on the line today against the table-toppers (Fully Charged New Lawn, 3pm).

It is a daunting task for United against a side who have not lost in the league since early October.

Millen says his side can approach the game in more confident shape than had they taken on Rob Edwards’ side before their recent revival.

But he says United have to be better on the ball than they were against Hartlepool on Tuesday if they are to give themselves the best chance of a result in Nailsworth.

“I’m expecting us to go there and perform like we have done – there’s a consistency to what we’ve been doing for a while, and we have to try and make it really hard for them,” the manager said.

“Our last two away performances were big games for different reasons, and we came out on top in them.

“We’ll be fine as far as our attitude and readiness for the game, and then we need to make sure when we do win the ball that we take more care of it, otherwise you can get pinned back in your own half against these teams.

“We have to make sure that when we do win the ball we take more care.

“If we do, with what we’ve got up front, we can cause any team problems, and that will be key to the result of the game – how effective we can be when we win the ball.”

Millen is set to be without right-back Kelvin Mellor, who is facing up to a lay-off with an ankle injury.

Joel Senior is likely to come in for his full debut.

Forest Green - whose 18-goal top scorer Matt Stevens last night signed a new deal - are without midfielder Ebou Adams, who is representing the Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.