Paul Simpson admits that restoring a winning culture to Carlisle United will not be an “overnight” fix.

The Blues have one pre-season friendly remaining - at home to Stockport County tomorrow - after poor showings in their last two outings.

Displays at Rochdale and Gateshead have raised concerns about United’s performance standard heading into the 2024/25 League Two campaign.

Carlisle are hoping to bounce back from a 2023/24 season when they were relegated with something to spare from League One.

Asked if the last two games had cast doubt on United’s ability to start moving in the right direction again with results, Simpson said: “I don't think these games cast a doubt on it. I think we all have to accept it's not going to happen overnight to change it.

“You can't suddenly just bring however many new players into the building and it suddenly just happens.

“It's going to have to evolve, and that's what we're working to try and do.

“There is a really good spirit amongst the players. There's a good work ethic amongst them.

“The top part of it is the level of performance in the last two games hasn't been good enough.

United's performance at Gateshead wasn't good enough, Simpson admitsUnited's performance at Gateshead wasn't good enough, Simpson admits (Image: Richard Parkes)

“So that's something we have to improve on. We've got to be better, and I'm confident we will be.”

Asked if he still had confidence United would be able to start the season on the front foot against Gillingham on August 10, Simpson said: “Absolutely – yes, I do.”

United’s manager, who could hand new loan signing Daniel Adu-Adjei his first appearance tomorrow, recently said he was “99 per cent” sure on his starting line-up for the league opener.

Asked if Tuesday’s poor showing in the north east had affected his thinking in that respect, Simpson said: “Not really, no.

“It's a really strange one because pre-season is about trying to get relationships. The primary objective of pre-season is to get everybody fit, get everybody to a level to start the season, and then to try and get relationships built in different areas of the pitch, in different units – left side, right side, wherever it might be.

“That's what we're continuing to do, and it is going to take a bit of time, but we also know that we have to get results.

“We need to be winning games of football, and that's what we're all aiming to do. That's what the players are talking about wanting to do.

“We'll learn from [Tuesday] again. As much as I'm disappointed with it, it doesn't really change my thinking about how I want to go about it going into that Gillingham game.”