Steven Rudd says Carlisle United must manage small chunks of the game better if they are to prevail against Fleetwood Town this weekend.

The joint caretaker boss says the Blues want to “dominate” against Charlie Adam’s visitors at Brunton Park.

But to do that United must end some recent “patterns”, such as their habit of conceding early goals.

Carlisle have conceded inside the first two minutes on two occasions and by the six-minute mark in another of their league games so far.

The most recent occasion was Andy Cook’s second-minute goal for Bradford City last weekend which immediately put United on the back foot.

Ahead of the Fleetwood clash, Rudd said: “You look throughout the leagues and the timings when goals are scored, and sometimes there are these patterns – five minutes before half-time, five minutes after half-time, the first five minutes of a game.

“So yes, they're the patches that we have to be better in, and come through five-minute spells.

“Fleetwood will have spells in the game on Saturday where they dominate the ball. That may be in our half of the pitch and we have to come through those spells.

“You have to stand up and be counted. And make sure that when we have our spells, that we are better in both boxes, with the football, and at hurting them, taking chances, shooting, crossing, getting the ball in the box.

United have conceded early goals in other games, such as the 2-1 defeat to TranmereUnited have conceded early goals in other games, such as the 2-1 defeat to Tranmere (Image: Ben Holmes)

“And at our end, keeping it out of the box to start with. And when it comes in the box, dealing with it and clearing danger.”

Both United and Fleetwood were relegated from League One last season, with Adam’s 18th-placed side on five points from their first four games in League Two in 2024/25.

Rudd says Saturday's visitors are a team to be respected but he wants the accent to be on what third-bottom Carlisle can do.

“They're a possession-based team that have had a mixed start to the season,” said Rudd.

“They've got some good threats on the pitch that we're going to have to nullify and try and take out of the game so that doesn't hurt us.

“But we want it to be about us,  about how we play, what we do – put our game plan onto them and we want to dominate the game at home.

“We know we're going to have to nullify their threats because they're a good side with good individuals. But actually, so are we.

“We want to take this game to them. We're at home, and we want to get our fans behind us and go on to get three points.”