Carlisle United boss Mike Williamson has spoken of the importance that today’s game with Tranmere Rovers carries in the race for Football League survival, as reported in the News and Star.
United head to the Wirral four points adrift of their hosts and of safety.
Huge Clash At Prenton Park
Carlisle have won just once in their last eight matches and find themselves rooted to the foot of the entire Football League, four points from safety.
One of those sides who are four points above Carlisle is Tranmere, who themselves have just one win in seven. Today’s contest, therefore, carries huge significance for the survival hopes of both these sides, something that is not lost on Williamson.
Williamson’s men will be backed by around 1,000 travelling fans and the manager insists that everyone is aware of the magnitude of the fixture.
“I don’t think you can get any bigger, can you?”
“In terms of where we are, and the games coming thick and fast…we have to go there and win.”
Must Use The Lessons From Last Outing
On New Year’s Day, Carlisle travelled to automatic promotion challengers Crewe Alexandra and looked to have secured an impressive, and vital, victory at Gresty Road.
United were 2-1 up heading into stoppage time but managed to lose the game 3-2 thanks to goals in the 93rd and 98th minute from the hosts.
Despite the disappointment, the manager remains positive and hopes to use the heartbreaking defeat as a learning exercise.
“We’ve got to take the positives of how good we played for the majority of the game.”
“[Losing at Crewe] increases the importance of the next game, but we will do that, and we’ll make sure that we’re right.”
“[The good things we take from it] are the physical endeavour, how we were on the front foot in a manic and difficult game against a high-quality team and the quality of our set-pieces.”
Williamson was asked whether he and his side would look to turn the potentially nervous home crowd against their own team, but he insists that is not where his focus lies.
“We focus on ourselves. We want to just go there and make sure we do everything we possibly can to give us the best opportunity to win the game.”
Writer’s View
This game is huge in the race for Football League survival. A Carlisle victory would heap pressure on those above and make for a potentially thrilling, rollercoaster of a run-in.
A primary school teacher turned writer, Tom has been part of The Real EFL for two years. He focuses on predictions, deep dives, and insightful content.
