Paul Simpson has urged Carlisle United’s fans: focus on us, not Harry McKirdy.
The Blues tomorrow take on a Swindon Town side where ex-United man McKirdy is likely to come in for plenty of terrace attention.
The former Carlisle striker scored one, set up two and celebrated all three in front of home fans in a contentious appearance at Brunton Park in February.
Simpson, though, said that a hot home reception for the visiting forward – who is on record as saying he “hates” Carlisle – runs the risk of firing him up again.
READ MORE: Carlisle United face two fresh injury concerns ahead of Swindon Town clash
“I don’t know the guy, but I read things, hear things…and it looks to me like he’s the sort of person who thrives on being disliked,” United’s manager said.
“When you put things out there like [he has said], you’re lighting the touchpaper if you go and antagonise him.
“Let’s make it a really nice place for him this weekend. And let’s make sure we make it a horrible day for him in terms of how we play football.
“I just [want] our supporters to focus on us, and he’s just one of the opposition players. Let’s make it about us this weekend, nobody else.
“He had his time here, I’ve no idea the circumstances why he left. I have watched a lot of him and I think he’s a really good footballer.
“The last thing I want to do is light the fuse that gets him properly going in a game and makes it really difficult for us.
“I’d rather he feels uncomfortable because we’ve shown him some love and he doesn’t perform.”
McKirdy, who was at Carlisle in the 2019/20 season, was a star man for Swindon last season as they reached the League Two play-offs.
He and the Robins are yet to score this campaign.
Simpson says that, while the 25-year-old is an obvious threat, he will not be making extra plans for McKirdy in his pre-match preparation.
“We certainly won’t be making any special provisions for him,” he said of the player who returns from suspension tomorrow.
“We will make the provisions that we do for every game. I don’t think there’s many clips we’re going to show them that involve Harry McKirdy – it’s more about the general way we play, the ideas of how they want to go.
“I think everybody knows what he’s capable of because the lads who we’ve got here are all keen football fans, they watch what’s going on in League Two, and they’re aware of what he’s been doing and what he’s capable of doing.
“One thing we really have to do is focus on ourselves, and that’s all I’m saying about the fans.
“When our fans focus on us and give us their support, they’re really good to us.
“That’s what we have to do, and hope he just has a day where nobody’s talking about him.”
Last season’s 3-0 home defeat to Swindon was the game that triggered the return of Simpson to Carlisle, the manager’s appointment following the departures of previous boss Keith Millen and director of football David Holdsworth.
Swindon, meanwhile, have lost manager Ben Garner to Charlton Athletic since then, Scott Lindsey having since taken charge, while McKirdy is the only remaining member of the three-man attack who terrorised United in February – Louis Barry and Josh Davison having moved on.
The Wiltshire club have one point from their opening two league games.
“I’ve watched those two games and I think they’re a good side – I’m really surprised they haven’t been able to get a victory so far,” added Simpson.
“Obviously in the Salford game they had the sending-off of Harry McKirdy, so played a long time with ten men.
“But the Harrogate game, they actually played well and got battered [3-0]. It’s a really strange one.
“I look through the team and they’ve got good experience with Mathieu Baudry, a good goalkeeper with Sol Brynn, Angus MacDonald at the back, good senior players who can be effective, people like Jonny Williams in midfield, everybody knows what Harry McKirdy’s capable of doing…I think they’re a good side.
“But I think we’ve shown we’re a good side in our three games. If we focus on us, and also if our supporters can focus on us and not get too involved with any of their players, I think we can make it a good day if our level of performance is as it has been in the last three.”
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