Paul Simpson hopes his tactical change at Carlisle United has helped release the shackles of a “negative” approach.

The Blues have impressed in their last two league games after reverting to a 4-3-3 system.

Simpson’s tactical tweak has involved a three-man attack featuring Jordan Gibson and Sean Maguire playing wide with Joe Garner down the middle.

Alfie McCalmont has also come back into a three-man midfield and the Blues have taken four points from fancied sides Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers after moving away from their long-established 3-5-2.

United host Leyton Orient today (Brunton Park, 3pm) looking for further progress in League One.

Explaining the system change from, Simpson said: “It happened [at Wycombe] when I made the change – it was forced upon us really because of the red card [to Jokull Andresson] but I made that change and I liked it.

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“I liked the four players who were in there [in defence] and the system worked for us.

“My head had been saying for a few weeks that we were losing some forward play because we were quite negative.

“I always tried to think of it as a back three but we were actually being a back five, which I didn’t like.

“Changing it to go with a four, and Callum [Guy] sitting, gave us the security at the back but also gave us more going forward.

News and Star: Alfie McCalmont has returned to the side in recent gamesAlfie McCalmont has returned to the side in recent games (Image: Ben Holmes)

“Whether it’s just a coincidence that we’ve managed to score some goals, I don’t know, or whether it’s the shape, but it’s going to have to be a case that I’m having to think more – more as a coach to how we’re going to affect games and what’s going to be right.

“This one will be another weekend where we’re going to have to think tactically about what’s the right way to get a result for ourselves.

“It’s about finding a way – I have to find a way with this group of players to get results.”

Simpson is set to recall the first-team players he left out of the side for Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy defeat to Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s.

That puts hat-trick hero Jordan Gibson along with Tomas Holy, Fin Back, Jack Armer, Sam Lavelle, Jon Mellish, Owen Moxon, McCalmont, Garner and Maguire in line to return to the XI.

Carlisle can overtake 16th placed Orient with a victory and Simpson hopes another good Brunton Park crowd can play its part.

“We just hope they’re coming again because they’re really important to us,” he added.

“I’m expecting it to be another good crowd, especially after what we had last weekend [at Bolton].

“I think the fans are coming on board with us, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I think they’ve been on board for the past couple of seasons and the players have given them something to come on board for.

“The big thing is we’ve just got to keep going and trying to get the results that go with the support we’re getting. Hopefully we can keep it going this weekend.”