Paul Simpson hopes Carlisle United can reward a hoped-for bigger crowd this weekend with a much-overdue performance and win.

The Blues have cut ticket prices for the visit of Stevenage as part of their #onecarlisleonecommunity initiative.

Adult ticket prices are £10 if bought before the day of the game, with children's prices £5. 

United hope for a good response to the promotion even as the team remains on dreadful form in League One.

Manager Simpson, whose side have lost 12 of their last 13 games, hopes his team will be able to rise to the occasion against Steve Evans’ play-off chasers.

“They’re always tough games against Stevenage, because Steve Evans knows how to put teams out to win games,” said Simpson.

“He’s certainly that sort of Marmite character. He’s always respectful to me when I speak to him – apart from in that technical area…

News and Star: Carlisle head into the game having lost 12 of their last 13Carlisle head into the game having lost 12 of their last 13 (Image: Richard Parkes)

“But we know it’s going to be a tough game. It’s difficult at the moment for supporters to stay positive with it but hopefully they will.

“The club has made a gesture to reduce ticket prices, and hopefully we can get a good crowd in.

“My priority is to try and get a performance that gets us a result that gives everybody a boost.”

Carlisle, 16 points adrift of safety with eight games to go, look certain to have relegation confirmed in the coming weeks.

Yet support has remained consistently strong all season with home crowds averaging their highest for decades – and regularly strong backing on the road too in spite of United’s struggles.

“The fans are doing everything they possibly can,” said Simpson.

“I've got no  problem with the fans, with the support they’ve giving, the loyalty they're showing to us.

“We've just got to find a way to get a result against a really strong Stevenage side. We're expecting it to be a tough game, but they always are against Stevenage. And we've just got to make sure we do all we can.”