Paul Simpson says Carlisle United must do all they can to make the longest trip of the season a memorable one.
The Blues are preparing for the 696-mile round trip to take on struggling Crawley Town.
It is the latest in a series of long away days for the Cumbrians.
Manager Simpson, though, says there are no complaints about the travelling – and every incentive for Carlisle to make it a successful journey.
“It’s part and parcel of being at Carlisle United,” he said. “You have long journeys.
“This is the next one for us.
“We know that [Crawley] are having a tough time at the moment and we've got to make sure we absolutely do everything we possibly can to make it a good weekend for ourselves.”
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United are once again set to be backed by impressive away support despite the long trek to Sussex.
They announced yesterday morning that 311 tickets had been sold, with more set to be snapped up.
Crawley slipped into the relegation zone last weekend and the second-bottom Red Devils – who United defeated at Brunton Park on the opening day of the season – have just one win in nine.
Simpson and third-placed Carlisle will be out to strengthen their promotion hopes, with the manager hoping his side can continue totting up the clean sheets.
Their shut-out in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Colchester United was their 13th of the campaign.
“We’re getting there,” the Blues boss said. “I like it when we get clean sheets. It gives us a real hell of a fighting chance.
“So we need more. I want a minimum of probably four or five more between now and the end of the season.
“With that sort of determination and attitude, we've got every chance of doing it.”
Simpson wants maximum focus from Carlisle at a time they have managed to hold onto third place despite a recent blip.
The Colchester win ended a three-game winless and goalless run, with rivals such as Northampton Town so far unable to overtake them.
“There's a long way to go,” stressed Simpson.
“Even [leaders] Leyton Orient, who are absolutely streets ahead, aren’t guaranteed it at this moment in time.
“So we're just going to keep going. We'll keep working and keep doing as much as we can.
“These last few days is a little bit of a reset and a refocus on what we want to do and where we want to go.
“We've given ourselves a brilliant chance with 14 games to go, to be sat third. We've given ourselves a good chance.
“But that's all it is. It's a chance. And if we do it properly over the 14, then it will be good. If we don't, then we have to take it on the chin.”
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