Gavin Skelton has warned Carlisle United’s new-look defensive line-up not to drop their standards.

The assistant manager says there are plenty of players waiting in the wings to step up if the first-choice trio are not on their game.

The combination of Morgan Feeney, Paul Huntington and Jon Mellish impressed in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Mansfield Town.

The three looked more comfortable as a unit than in their first outing together, when Rochdale put three past the Blues at Brunton Park.

Skelton said they were excellent at Mansfield and need to keep their standards high.

“We’ve had a bit of time to work on it, plus don’t forget Morgan hadn’t trained loads before that Rochdale game,” Skelton said.

READ MORE: Mixed news on the injury front at Carlisle United

“Also, they know there’s threats from Corey Whelan, Jack Ellis, Duncan Idehen...

“They have to be on their game because there are people chomping at the bit who are disappointed they’re not playing.

“If some don’t perform there are opportunities for others.

“Hopefully, selfishly from our point of view, they can keep performing like they did on Tuesday and keep the shirt.”

The Blues back line, marshalled by experienced Cumbrian defender Huntington, restricted Mansfield to few real opportunities on Tuesday.

They will now aim to keep AFC Wimbledon at bay when Carlisle return to Brunton Park tomorrow.

“I thought we looked strong, organised,” said Skelton. “The back three were really solid, competed well, limited [Mansfield] to very few chances – I can’t remember the last time they didn’t score at home, it’s a long time.

“Credit to them and to the whole team. It’s just a shame that, with that finer detail at the far end, we couldn’t get what we probably think as an away team we deserved.”

United missed more good chances in the 0-0 draw but Skelton said it is important players don’t shy away from getting themselves in the right positions.

He said if the Blues keep making the right runs, their fortunes in front of goal will improve.

“There will be no people more frustrated than the ones who had those opportunities,” the coach said.

“You can look at it a hundred million ways but it’s opportunities we should score. You can’t hide behind it.

“I felt sorry for Denno [Kristian Dennis] up top – his individual performance was excellent, in terms of how he led the line, his intelligence when to run short, when to link, when to run in behind, and his work rate against big, physical defenders.

“It’s just that he couldn’t get the goal his performance deserved.

“We keep working on it. In every team, the lower down the pyramid you go, it’s that finer detail, that bit of quality, that final third, be it the type of cross or run, how you cross, how you relax when you finish.

“We’ll keep going. We’ve shown this season we’re more than capable of scoring goals.

“We’re creating opportunities. People always say it’s worrying if people weren’t getting in those positions, thinking, ‘I don’t want to get in there because I might miss’, which can happen, I’ve seen it at previous clubs.

“But they keep getting in there and I’m sure they’ll get the rewards. People talk about other teams and are saying, ‘They’ll hit their straps and it’ll start falling for them’.

“Our performances have shown if we hit our straps we can be a real threat to teams as well.”