Carlisle United to travel by train for Sutton United game

The Blues are travelling to London by rail today ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Sutton United.

Manager Paul Simpson says the club have “pushed the boat out” to fund the trip – along with help from train company Avanti West Coast.

Simpson says it will reduce United’s travelling time for the game in south London where the Blues are aiming to seal their play-off place.

He added that it ought to ensure better preparation for the squad ahead of an early kick-off tomorrow, with the game getting under way at 12.30pm.

United’s boss said: “We’re going to travel down on the train [this] afternoon, so we’re doing something a little bit different.

“It means we know it’s going to be three hours 20 minutes on the train rather than anything between three-and-a-half and seven hours on a bus.

“The bus will meet us down there and we’ll get over to the hotel, and prepare the same way.

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“The club have pushed the boat out and I think I’m right in saying Avanti have looked after us and done a deal for us as well.

“It’s a fantastic gesture from the club to find the extra money for it which I really appreciate.”

Simpson thanked United's hierarchy for finding extra money to pay for the train trip (Image: Richard Parkes)

Simpson told a recent fans’ forum that he would ideally like to use the train for long away trips more often.

But he acknowledged that this may not always be the most cost-effective move for the Blues.

“Going on the train makes it really straightforward for us. It is something I’d like to do moving forward,” he said.

“But I’m also fully aware it costs a lot of money. I can’t stamp my feet and say I want to go on the train, because at a club like ours every pound’s a prisoner and we have to make sure it’s all spent properly.”

Simpson said his players have prepared well this week and he said the slightly different schedule cannot be used as any excuse in the game.

“It’s slightly different in terms of the fact it’s not a breakfast and pre-match on the day, and the pre-match will be breakfast,” he said.

“It will be the similar sort of preparation [otherwise].

“All those things are excuses if you use that. We have to make sure there are no excuses and we go and do it as well as we possibly can.

“The players have trained and had rest days this week, and [yesterday] they were really lively, where we started to touch on a bit of the prep for the Sutton game.

“We’ll do our final bits [today], and I would like to think they’re going to be ready.

“We know what we need to do. The truth is I don’t think it’s any different to what we’ve had to do in any games. We’re going there to win it and we’ll deal with whatever comes. If we don’t win it, make sure we don’t lose it, simple as that.”