CARLISLE United boss Paul Simpson has called for his Blues to 'fight and scrap' after their defeat against Blackpool.

Neil Critchley's Tangerines, thanks to strikes from Andy Lyons and Jordan Rhodes, fired three past the travelling Cumbrians handing them their fourth league defeat in five and leaving them three points adrift in the relegation zone.

The defeat was also marred by abuse that the Carlisle boss says was directed at him from the away end after the match had concluded.

Carlisle now have four games remaining in the calendar year and until the January transfer window opens, with this run-in beginning with the visit of Jon Brady's Northampton Town to Brunton Park this weekend.

The Blues will also face fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town and Fleetwood Town over the festive period and ahead of these fixtures Simpson highlighted the importance of picking up results before the opening of the winter window.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips after his side were defeated at Bloomfield Road, he said: "We have got to just fight and scrap and try and get everything we possibly can between now and January.

"If it frightens the players who are here now because players are coming in, then I am really sorry but they are going to have to grow up and dig deep because whoever is in charge of this club come January then there is going to be changes and they are going to have to be brave enough to deal with it.

"Unfortunately we are not good enough to carry three or four players who are not playing to their level of ability and that is what we have had to do."