Carlisle United's Cameron Harper: 'It will click...'

And the summer signing says the Blues can have confidence about a run of improved form once things “click”.

Harper has also offered his best wishes to fellow left-sided defender Ben Williams, who suffered a serious-looking injury in the 2-1 defeat at Bradford City.

That brought Harper off the bench for his United league debut at Valley Parade as Carlisle suffered a fourth defeat in five League Two games, leaving them third bottom of the table.

It came under caretakers Steven Rudd, Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt, who are preaching a more passing style and Harper feels that will be to the team’s benefit in the long run.

“It’s been good [under the caretakers so far,” Harper told the News & Star. “The boys have been really energetic, and so have the coaching staff that have come in.

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“They're getting us going, and they're clear with how they want us to play.

“I think you could see on the pitch on Saturday, and even against Nottingham Forest Under-21s last Tuesday, we create a lot of chances and we play some good football.

Harper believes the style of play being encouraged by the caretaker managers will suit the players (Image: Martyn Haworth)

“Once we have maybe a full week of going into one more game, you'll see a lot better side of us.”

Harper says the interim managers have looked to make gradual changes rather than a wholesale revamp of how United are playing.

But he said the changes are still noticeable and added: “They've not tried to bombard us with too much, they've just tried to drip feed it, but yeah, they have changed a little bit in how we're set up in terms of formation and how we're going to play and how we're going to press.

“I think it does suit the players we have. I think with the quality of the group of players, we're very flexible in being able to go into different formations and stuff like that, so it's been good – I can't complain.

“We’ve only been with the new [caretaker] management team since the beginning of last week, and we’ve had two games, so it's been pretty hectic.

“But I think you saw enough of us [at Bradford] that would give anyone a wee bit of confidence that once it does start clicking for us, we'll be okay.”

United were undone by their failings in both boxes at Valley Parade and this, Harper felt, cost them on a day when much of their general play was bright.

“It was extremely frustrating,” he said after the game, “because, in all honesty, I don't feel like we fully deserved to get beat.

“I felt like we created a lot of chances, but when you start a game like that [United were caught out with an early Bradford goal] it's always an uphill battle, and then the second goal…I don't exactly know what happened, I have to watch it back, but I feel like it was preventable.

“I don't know the big striker [Andy Cook] very well, but you can see it's his game straight away from the size of him, and it's an uphill battle from there on.

“I'm just disappointed. We could have done with just seeing out the draw even – it’s a hard place to come – and at least giving the Carlisle fans something.

“But I'm not concerned in any way in terms of worrying about us and stuff like that, because we do create chances, we do play some good football, and it'll come and it'll all click.”

The left side of United’s defence, or in Simpson’s preferred left wing-back area, has been a chequered one since the summer with Harper joining from Inverness Caledonian Thistle but missing the start of the campaign with a groin problem.

Williams, the former Cheltenham Town man, came in on the eve of the campaign but on Saturday needed lengthy treatment after catching his studs in the wet Bradford turf, later leaving on crutches amid fears of a lengthy lay-off.

“I hope Ben's okay,” said Harper, who came off the bench in the 11th minute to replace Williams.

“I didn’t expect to be playing as long. Fingers crossed he's okay, and it's not as bad as it looks.”

After a pre-season injury, Harper finally made his Blues debut last week (Image: Richard Parkes)

Harper finally made his United debut in the Forest Under-21 game in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy last Tuesday, his league debut following at Bradford and now a first league start looks likely when Fleetwood Town visit Brunton Park this weekend.

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“It wasn't an ideal start for me,” admitted Harper. “Everyone hates sitting on the sideline when they're injured.

“It's good to get [my first appearances] out of the way, but it’s a bittersweet kind of thing when you're not getting a few points.”

Harper insists he and his team-mates are not spending much time dwelling on the challenge of impressing a new boss in the coming weeks, preferring to focus on the need for good performance whatever the circumstances.

“We’re not really thinking about that in that sense – we just want to try our best and try to win football matches,” added the 22-year-old.

Carlisle were backed by 1,756 travelling fans at Bradford and the opportunity to reward home supporters for their faith, and patience, must now be taken against Fleetwood.

“This was my first away day, and the away backing was incredible,” Harper said. “The home backing has been too.

“We'll dust ourselves down, have a few more days of training with the new management and hopefully go into the game on Saturday and get three points.”