Carlisle United boss on Colchester United's 'transformation'

The U’s have stormed clear of relegation trouble after a January of heavy recruitment was followed by an impressive string of results.

Head coach Matt Bloomfield has overseen five consecutive away wins, while the Essex outfit are unbeaten in five and have lost just once in their last nine.

They still sit in the relatively lowly position of 16th in League Two, on account of their poor start to the campaign.

But Simpson says tomorrow’s visitors to Brunton Park have huge momentum and Carlisle must be much improved in order to prevail.

“It's been a massive transformation through a few additions to the group and they look a strong squad,” said Simpson of the U’s.

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“Their position in the league table at the moment probably isn’t a reflection of the group that they've got now.

“They've got a very good, effective group of players who are on a brilliant run. They are the form team, and particularly away from home they're on probably the best run they've had for a long time.

Colchester boss Matt Bloomfield (Image: PA)

“They have got momentum and getting results and we've got to stop it. What we've got to do is match them, simple as that. We believe that we're good side when we do things properly and hopefully we're able to show our proper selves on Saturday afternoon.”

Bloomfield, who pipped Simpson to the SkyBet League Two manager of the month award for January, brought in a number of players last month.

Arriving were the likes of Matt Jay, Tom Hopper, Connor Hall, Arthur Read, Tom Smith, Fiacre Kelleher and Connor Wood.

They have bolstered a squad that boasts other experienced campaigners like frontman John Akinde, though another – midfielder Cole Skuse – is ruled out with injury this weekend.

“They've got strikers who cause problems in Akinde, in Hopper, in Jay. There are good players there. And we know we've got to be right,” said Simpson.

“But we also know that we've got players who on their day can cause lots of problems, can cause any team in our league an issue.

“And the truth of it is we've just got to get back to doing what we've been doing for the most part of the season. And that may sound like a broken record. I've probably said it a few times, but that's the truth of it, we just need to get back to what we have been doing.”

Bloomfield replaced Wayne Brown at the helm last September, the former Wycombe Wanderers favourite making a bright start to life in the dugout at Colchester.

“I haven't really come across him much. Obviously when he was playing I did, but I've not come across him as a coach,” Simpson said. “But he's done an excellent job so far with them.

“He’s obviously been really well backed by the by the directors who have allowed him to strengthen his squad.

“Hopefully he's not very happy at the end of the game and hopefully we've been able to put on a performance and I'll gladly shake his hand at the end…”