Mike Williamson on first Carlisle United home game in charge

The head coach’s first home game in charge sees the Blues take on Grimsby Town.

It offers Williamson and his side the opportunity to build on last weekend’s 2-0 win at Swindon Town in his first match at the helm.

It was a positive start for the new boss in front of a vocal travelling support in Wiltshire.

Now Paul Simpson’s successor will aim to deliver another good afternoon for the home faithful and help Carlisle begin a climb up the League Two table.

On the prospect of his first game in front of the Brunton Park faithful, Williamson said: “Very excited, yes. I can't wait.

“That was the whole vision of coming here, with the owners.

“When I spoke to them, they knew how passionate the supporters are and they really just wanted to give them something to shout about and to believe in.

“We’ve come here with hope. It’s still very early, but I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

Carlisle remained third bottom after their win at Swindon but another positive afternoon would give them the chance to make some early strides back up the table.

United are hoping to build on their Swindon win when they host Grimsby next (Image: Richard Parkes)

The Cumbrians are on six points from their first seven games but could overtake mid-table Grimsby with another win.

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In order to do that, Carlisle will need to record back-to-back victories in the league for the first time since March 2023.

Williamson will hope his squad will be bolstered by defender Terell Thomas, who sat out the Swindon game as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem.

After the win in Wiltshire the new Blues boss suggested Saint Lucia international Thomas was not far away from returning.

Fellow defender Aaron Hayden, though, is set to remain on the sidelines for a few weeks.

Striker Luke Armstrong is set to get his second start of the league campaign after his goalscoring impact at the County Ground.

Ben Barclay could get another start in defence after his call-up in Williamson’s first game in charge.

Williamson will be out to emulate predecessor Simpson by winning his first two games in charge. Other managers to have achieved that feat at the start of their permanent reigns include Steven Pressley (2019).

United face a Grimsby side who have won three and lost four of their opening seven league games of 2024/25 under David Artell. Their three away games so far have all brought defeats, while last time out they claimed a 1-0 home win over Bromley.