Gaffer says players are feeling positive ahead of long trip to the North-West.
Having held league leaders Wycombe Wanderers to a draw at One Call Stadium last time out, manager Adam Murray says his players are in a positive frame of mind ahead of this Saturday’s trip to Carlisle United.
Our squad will make the 175-mile journey to the North-West tomorrow and stay overnight ahead of Saturday’s meeting with a team who are just a point below us in the Sky Bet League Two table.
Murray said: “It’s a game we go into with a lot of confidence after our recent performances.
“Everyone is aware that we probably haven’t quite got the results that our performances have deserved over the past few games, but performance levels have been really high and we’ll go there prepared.”
He continued: “There’s no hiding away from the fact that it’s a big game for all kinds of reasons, but we’re going there to set-up to win the game. We know that we’re going to be in for a battle and a scrap against a good team that’s in a transition period – just the same as ourselves.
“Because of the situation that both teams are in, it probably puts a little bit more emphasis on the game, but after it there’s 57 points to play for and that’s a lot of points.”
The 33-year-old also had complimentary words about Carlisle boss Keith Curle, whom he worked under as a player, here at One Call Stadium.
“Keith is a quality manager,” added our boss. “I’ve worked under him and I know that he’s a good bloke who will have his team organised and up for the battle. He was successful here and he’s one of the good guys in football.
“He’s got a lot of football intelligence and he does things the right way. It’ll be nice to come up against one of his teams and hopefully we can get the result that we want as a club.”
Murray also had praise for frontman Ollie Palmer, who is currently out on a one-month loan at Grimsby Town which is due to expire in early February.
Palmer has so far bagged two goals in three Vanarama Premier appearances for the Mariners – one on his debut against Barnet and one on Tuesday night in a win away at Eastleigh.
“He’s done well, he’s scored goals and that was the whole point of him going out on loan,” added our gaffer.
“We’re looking at the situation. What I won’t do is bring him back to just sit around. If I feel that he’ll effect the starting eleven, we’ll look at him, but he’s doing what we sent him out to do.”
Adam Murray’s full interview from this morning’s press meeting will be available on Stags Player soon. To subscribe, click here.
