Carlisle United boss: We must go right to the end in Stevenage clash

The Blues boss, whose side take on Steve Evans’ fellow promotion-chasers this afternoon (Brunton Park, 3pm) showed their ability to go to the end last time out at Swindon Town.

And they must be ready to do that again if needed in the top-three showdown, Simpson insists.

Carlisle are targeting a fifth straight win which, the manager says, would boost his side’s belief even further.

“I'm not even bothered about the message it would send out to everybody else – it's the message it would send to our players,” Simpson said.

“It's the belief that that gives you.

“They already have the belief they’ve taken from last week by going to the 96th minute and getting a winner there – and we'll need it again on Saturday.

LISTEN: Simmo sets the scene for huge promotion showdown

“We'll need to go right through to the end because Stevenage will, and we know it's going to be a big challenge that we're really looking forward to.”

Carlisle are expected to be backed by a strong home crowd as they bid to land a blow on one of their direct rivals – and leapfrog them into second place in the process.

Victory would also mean five league wins in a row for the first time since January 2019.

They take on a visiting side who are themselves eyeing a third consecutive victory.

Simpson is delighted with the backing his team is receiving, ahead of today’s high-stakes encounter – one of five big home games United have left this season.

“I think the fans have responded to everything that's been going on and that's the positive,” he said.

“I find it astounding the response we've had to the #10for10 promotion that's going on, everybody's being positive about the football club – and I keep saying that it comes by winning games of football.

“So we've just got to keep going. We've got to keep ourselves right. If we get a result [today], it'll set us up nicely for Bradford [on Tuesday]. Then we've got to make sure we're right for Gillingham, and then we set ourselves up for Orient so each game will just keep coming thick and fast.

“And we've got to do everything we can to stay in those top places.”

As United aim to continue a memorable season, two legends from previous successful eras are back at Brunton Park today.

Bobby Parker is one of United's guests today, along with fellow defensive legend Tot Winstanley (Image: PA)

Long-serving Bobby Parker, who played for the Blues in the top flight and is widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest all-time defenders, is one of the club’s guests.

He will be joined by fellow defender Tot Winstanley, whose time at United famously included the winning goal against Roma in Carlisle’s 3-2 Anglo-Italian Cup victory in the Stadio Olimpico in 1972.

They will be appearing in the Kingmoor Park Legends Lounge, the 74/75 Lounge and Foxy’s Restaurant before the game.