Paul Simpson gives his reaction to Carlisle United's win at Barrow AFC

The 2-1 victory in the Cumbrian derby took the Blues 12 points above the relegation zone with nine games to go.

It was the latest memorable afternoon for United since Simpson returned to the helm – and a fifth win in six games.

The manager relished the fact Carlisle could share the moment with their noisy 612 travelling fans at Holker Street.

“They were brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” he said.

“There was more because as I was walking off I’ve got people in the main stand saying, ‘I’ve had to sneak in here’, and fans down this end shouting…

“The fans have been brilliant. Let’s get them in next week at Brunton Park, let’s make it another atmosphere, another good day, and I think at least one more [win] will probably secure it – but then after that we’ve got to finish as high as we possibly can.”

United fans celebrate at Barrow

The first league meeting in front of fans at Barrow’s ground since 1964 saw Jordan Gibson’s eighth of the season and Kristian Dennis’s first Carlisle goal give Simpson’s side the decisive advantage.

Ollie Banks pulled one back but Barrow, in front of their biggest home league crowd since 1969 (4,658) couldn’t complete a fightback.

Simpson said his team showed character in abundance at the Dunes Hotel Stadium – and was thrilled that frontman Dennis was the matchwinner.

“That’s where experience comes in,” the manager said of Dennis’ contribution.

“It’s why I wanted an experienced group to try and fight for these last 15 games.

“I’m really pleased for him that he’s got his reward. He’s worked so hard for very little reward, and hopefully that’s the first of a few more for him.

“I’ve just said to him that he’s earned that over the five games. He’s absolutely worked his socks off and he’s got a bit of nouse about him.

Kristian Dennis, left, celebrates his goal

“The reason I went with him instead of Lewi Alessandra in the first game is that I remembered him scoring goals at Chesterfield when [my son] Jake was the fitness coach there.

“That’s why I opted for him. His work-rate is incredible and he’s got his reward, which is brilliant.”

After taking one point from their previous six games, a return of 15 from a possible 18 under Simpson represents an incredible turnaround.

This one was a battling affair but no less satisfying for that.

“At this stage of the season, a win’s a win,” Simpson told the News & Star.

“When you’re scrapping for your lives like we and they are, they’d have taken a scrappy, horrible win, [but] we’ve done it.

Omari Patrick is airborne

“I thought we scored two good goals, it was a great finish from Gibbo and a great one from Kristian.

“We have to earn the right to win games and you have to scrap to do that – that’s how it all starts.

“We start with the work ethic, the togetherness, and that’s what’s dragged us through in the end.”

Simpson felt the first half, when Carlisle pounced on Barrow’s attempts to play out from the back, was crucial.

“We wanted to invite them and try and set a trap and I thought we did it really well,” the manager said.

“The middle centre-back, [Niall] Canavan, looked a decent footballer but we set that trap: if it comes through the middle we work together, with two strikers to try and close it off, and we needed midfielders to be on top of Banks, and around [John] Rooney, because they’re their two playmakers.

“I’ve been impressed with them in the games I’ve watched, I thought we dealt with it all really really well.”

Ollie Banks challenges Mark Howard as Barrow attack

After going in a goal down, Barrow applied pressure early in the second half and hit the bar through Matt Platt before Dennis doubled the lead, making Banks’ later reply a consolation.

“They had a couple of other little skirmishes as well, and a couple of the lads have just told me that they didn’t think we defended well enough, but that was horrible,” Simpson said.

“Some of those deliveries from set plays were incredible. Our keeper [Mark Howard] did well on a couple of occasions and we had to put our head on it and defend it.

“I thought it was a fantastic finish from Banks for their goal. We looked as if we’d done ok then it dropped to him and he rifled it in.

“Credit to him, but thankfully it’s not a goal we have to worry about because we came out on top.”