Carlisle United boss calls for 'pride' at Bristol Rovers

The Blues head to Bristol Rovers desperate to end their seven-game losing run (Memorial Stadium, 3pm).

Despite relegation now looking all but certain from League One, manager Simpson has called for unity this week – and a much better offering for fans this afternoon.

“We know we’ve got to lift our game, we know that we’ve all got to be front foot, head up, chest out, and go and give our supporters something to be proud of,” Simpson said.

“That’s my big message – I want to get that trust back from the supporters. I want to make the supporters feel proud.”

Carlisle’s bid to stop the rot sees them up against Matt Taylor’s mid-table Pirates.

• LISTEN: Simmo on Bristol Rovers clash, Blues' struggles, injuries, contracts and more

“They’re a good, experienced side. They've got a couple of players who I've worked with before in Jack Hunt and Chris Martin. Good, experienced players who have played at higher level.

“It's going to be a tough game. But it's a game that that we know that we've got to be better than we have been.

“Because everybody wants to turn these results around.”

Simpson, who could have Sean Maguire back in his squad today after injury, is projecting a calm demeanour despite the Blues’ miserable run.

United’s losing streak has increased criticism from some fans towards the manager, who said Carlisle’s owners, the Piataks, remain “fully supportive”.

Matt Taylor's Bristol Rovers host the Blues today (Image: PA)

Simpson, who last night faced questions from fans at a London Branch Q&A meeting in Bristol, said he was determined to remain fully focused amid these difficult times.

“I think you've just got to have a bit of clarity about it,” he said. “And I have been clear this week with [the players] about what's expected.

“We're trying to be clear in training about what's expected of them.

“Trust me, I get angry at times as well. But nobody on the outside wants to see that – that's just for me to do what I need to do with the players.

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“What do I lean on [at times like this]? I suppose you lean on [your] experience. I speak to people who I trust in the game. I just keep trying to do what I think's the right thing to do and hope that it changes.”

Simpson says he has not lost belief that his players can start turning things around even at this stage. 

“I believe that the players that are going to go to Bristol Rovers are good enough to go and get a result, that’s why we are placing our trust in them,” he added.

“Now we’ve just got to get the performance. Now we’ve got to get a full performance, not for 15 minutes at the start or for 15-20 minutes at the start of the second half – we have to have a complete performance.”

“If everybody puts the work in, if everybody is as professional as we believe they can be and we can stick together as a group then hopefully we will be able to go and get a result.”