Mike Williamson says Carlisle United must now treat every game like “a cup final” as they desperately try to turn their season around.

The second-bottom Blues are preparing for a home clash with Cheltenham Town amid growing concerns about their plight in League Two.

Carlisle have gone seven games without a win in all competitions and their midweek defeat at Walsall brought fresh criticism from worried fans.

Now the focus turns to their latest Brunton Park game on Saturday as head coach Williamson and his side seek a sorely-needed lift.

“Every game now is a cup final, and that's how we've got to face every game,” said Williamson.

“Being at home, we've got to make sure that we're at our very, very best and I've got no doubt the boys will be ready.

“But yes, every game, every point is so invaluable. We've got to make sure we play it like it's our last game.”

Carlisle are three points adrift in the drop zone after nine defeats from their first 13 games – while they have conceded 27 so far, comfortably the worst defensive record in the division.

They take on a Cheltenham side who sit 17th, Michael Flynn’s Robins having also made a struggling start but now with a win and a draw from their last two outings.

Michael Flynn's Cheltenham are United's next opponentsMichael Flynn's Cheltenham are United's next opponents (Image: PA)

United’s predicament loads further pressure on Saturday’s encounter yet Williamson insists there have been enough signs of quality at certain times – along with players returning from injury – to give him confidence that a turnaround can be achieved

“You see the quality in periods throughout the period we've been in,” he said.

“Tuesday [at Walsall] was a very difficult night. Taking stock of where the two clubs are, they [Walsall] are very much on the ascendancy and they're at the top of the league for a reason, because they've constructed a really difficult squad and team to play against,  they've got a philosophy and they make it very, very hard for the opposition.

“They overpowered us, they had too much quality for us today and we've got to assess it and we've got to find ways, because at the minute we're lacking quality.

“At the minute we're trying to get minutes into players that haven't had very much game time – we're trying to get sharpness into lads, whilst we're in a very, very precarious and difficult place in the league, which takes a lot from the players that are going out there.

“But we've got a lot of experience, we have got good quality and the more players that come back, the fitter and stronger we get, we'll be absolutely fine.”

Williamson could have Charlie Wyke back available after the head coach said the striker missed the Walsall trip through illness. Sam Lavelle is also being assessed after he suffered a broken nose in the 3-1 defeat.

Another fitness boost is on the way, meanwhile, after loan striker Daniel Adu-Adjei returned to action with a 31-minute substitute appearance for parent club AFC Bournemouth's development squad on Thursday evening, ahead of his return to Carlisle.

United’s head coach said the team’s work in the final third is a key aspect of preparation for the weekend, after a Walsall defeat which brought vocal criticism from the travelling fans.

“We’ll make sure that we look at areas where the quality of our passing wasn't acceptable, and how we affect the back line, because when we did get in there, we didn't have the quality – we were stifled far too easily and we've got to make sure that we've got a clear understanding of how we're going to score goals,” he added.