Stevenage boss Steve Evans' transfer jibe at Carlisle United

The visiting manager used a pre-game press conference to respond to pre-season comments by Blues boss Paul Simpson about Stevenage’s own recruitment.

Evans suggested that, whatever Stevenage have invested in their promotion-chasing squad, Carlisle were hardly the paupers of League Two themselves.

Describing a squad with plenty of options in reserve, Evans said: “I know we’ve got seven or eight [players] that can help us sitting behind us. But so has Paul Simpson.

“I know Paul spoke earlier in the season about what we’ve done in signing players…well, they must all be going up to Cumbria for nothing. It’s amazing.

“But he’s done a wonderful job so we know how tough a test it will be. But we’re looking forward to it.”

Simpson, speaking before the season, had commented on “scary money” being offered by some League Two clubs to players.

United’s boss said in July: “You look at clubs like Bradford City – they’ve made nine or ten signings. Some bloody good ones as well, players who I would have been interested in signing but we couldn’t compete.

“I know what Crawley are talking about spending on players, I know what Stevenage have spent on players, I know what Salford City are spending on players.

“There’s players there we have discussed. But it’s outrageous the sort of level of salaries they’re putting into players.”

While Carlisle have increased their player spending to back Simpson this season, the manager has always maintained United's outlay has been "sustainable" and within budget.

The two clubs are now direct rivals in the automatic promotion race with Stevenage second and United third going into tomorrow’s Brunton Park showdown.

Evans denied that it was a pivotal contest in the race but admitted his side would need to put in an “exceptional” performance to get anything out of the game.

“I know that whether we win, lose or draw at Carlisle, it will have no reflection on Saturday evening whether we win promotion, Carlisle won’t, or whether they will or we won’t,” said Evans.

“It will be two good teams. I have a lot of respect for the players at Carlisle, and enormous respect for the manager. And it’s always a club when I visit where the fans get right behind the team and show passion, and so they should – that’s what football’s all about.

Evans says he has enormous respect for Paul Simpson

“We know we have to play well to come back adding to our points tally. We need an exceptional performance to win at Carlisle.”

Evans said even games United have lost at Brunton Park only provide limited pointers.

“When you look at the teams that have gone there this year and won, if you look at Mansfield and Harrogate…I know Mansfield ran out comfortable 4-0 winners but I watched a rerun of that game, and it’s never, ever a 4-0 game. But sometimes that can happen.

“We are going to play a team that are fairly settled in their personnel, and in their structure and style, and we have to be at our very best in the plan that we come up with to try and come back with a point or all three.

“We’ll arrive nice and early, we’ll be fresh, we’ll get that north west / Cumbrian air into our lungs.

“Everyone loves going to the Lake District, don’t they. Everyone loves breathing that air in.

“We have to go and produce a top performance.”