Simpson: I only want positive people around Carlisle United

The Blues are likely to seal a play-off place next Monday as they bid to maintain a promotion chance.

It promises to be an exciting climax to the campaign.

And manager Simpson says he wants only positivity around Brunton Park as United aim to get over the line.

“We’ve just got to stay together and stay positive,” said Simpson.

“It’s really easy to criticise and be negative, [but] we have to stay together.

“If you want to help us, stick with us. If you don’t, don’t come along and be involved in it because we want people who want to be positive for this football club and the team."

Simpson, commenting after the 3-2 defeat to Salford City last weekend, added: “The players need to be positive and that’s what it’ll be about this week.

“We’ve got to make sure our mindset is right so we go to Sutton and put on the best performance we can that sets us up for another three games.”

Simpson has called for maximum positivity at Brunton Park (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Carlisle will be in the play-offs unless they lose at Sutton United, Mansfield win at Colchester United and there is a goal difference swing of eight - as well as Salford and Bradford City also avoiding defeat.

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It would see Carlisle in their fourth EFL play-offs, having lost in semi-finals in 1994, 2008 and 2017.

Their other play-off experience came in the Conference season of 2004/5 – when Simpson led them to glory.

Carlisle had been in the automatic promotion hunt until last weekend’s defeat to Salford.

Simpson said that represented serious progress given where United had come from the previous campaign.

He said expectations had grown as a result of their much-improved performance this season.

Simpson added: “[To be where we are] is a fantastic achievement, when you think about where we were last year.

“We're trying to build something better here.

“I remember my days at Derby County when I went in with Steve McClaren and we had a three-year plan.

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“And unfortunately, as daft as this sounds, we got to a play-off final in the first year, so expectations go through the roof.

“And I know because we had second place for a while [here], people's expectations start to raise…and maybe ours do. Maybe we think we can achieve more.

“I always knew the last 12-14 games were going to be really, really difficult because of the fixtures, and the opposition so far away in Gillingham, Orient… these types of games.

“But I think we’ve done ok – but just ok, and we have to make sure we give ourselves something to hang onto, and go and try and achieve a play-off place and see where we go from there.”

Carlisle, meanwhile, are awaiting the results of an appeal against Jon Mellish's red card against Salford City.

As it stands the defender will be suspended for the Sutton trip and the two play-off semi-final legs should the Blues be involved.