Paul Simpson has called for “controlled aggression” from his Carlisle United players in the derby atmosphere at Barrow.
Tomorrow sees the Blues head to Holker Street for the second all-Cumbrian clash of the League Two season.
It sees both sides seeking further points to boost their respective survival hopes – with a 600-strong travelling support set to back the Blues.
Simpson said his side must be ready to battle, but in the right way.
“I want us to be aggressive but it’s got to be controlled aggression,” the United manager said.
“We have to finish the game with 11 players. It’s as simple as that. We can’t allow the emotions to run away with it.
“If we can keep our emotions in check and work and are committed, I think we’ve got enough ability to cause Barrow some problems.
“I also think they’ve got some individuals that can cause us problems. Like every game, we have to defend well, attack well, have security behind the ball when we’re attacking, and also be prepared to be on the front foot when we’re defending, be prepared to have a transition with good tempo and pace, and let the quality come through.”
It is the first league meeting between the sides at Barrow’s ground in front of fans since 1964.
The Bluebirds are set for one of their biggest home crowds of the season as Mark Cooper’s side take on Simmo’s Blues.
For the Carlisle manager himself it will be a first visit to Holker Street for 18 years.
“The ground’s a really tight ground, it’s a bit of an old-school ground, it’s a local derby, they’ll get wired into us, I’m quite sure about that, and we’ve got to be prepared to match it,” he added.
“I think in any game of football there’s a given that you’re expected that you have to work hard and tackle, compete, have a desire to get positive things happening, and the fact it’s a local derby and we’re going to have really good support should have an extra bit of incentive for our players to go and do it.
“I’m looking forward to it. The last time I went there was for a pre-season friendly; I was only thinking the other day it’s the pre-season friendly where I made the decision to sign Keiren Westwood, so I haven’t been back since.
“I wouldn’t think it’s changed massively, but I’m looking forward to it. It should be a really good day for us, but only if we go and do it properly.”
Cooper’s Barrow side boosted their own safety bid with a 1-0 win at bottom side Scunthorpe on Tuesday.
They are six points above the drop zone, three behind Carlisle.
“They’re an experienced side, they’ve also got a couple of players in there who have experience of being at Carlisle United, so that’ll add a bit of extra spice for them,” Simpson added.
“They’re an experienced side who’ve been inconsistent this season like we have.
“We’ve slightly edged that consistency only because we’re a few points better off than them, but it’s about this weekend – this is the next game for us both.
“They had a really big win at Scunthorpe which hasn’t done Scunthorpe any favours at all. They played against ten men for 70 minutes, so they wouldn’t have had to really exert themselves.
“We had a really tough game and got turned over at home [by Newport], but I thought we finished the game really well.
“It’s who can start well, who can get their noses in front, then be prepared to work and see it through, and battle and scrap, and do the ugly side of it.
“If that’s the way the game goes and we come out on top, I’ll take a scrappy ugly game just to get a result.”
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