‘Carlisle need to be up for the fight’

Mar 29 2008 by David Coverdale, The Journal

CARLISLE United travel to relegation-threatened Gillingham Town this afternoon looking to move another step closer to securing a place in the Championship next season.

The Easter weekend proved a fruitful one for the Blues, picking up a maximum six points and scoring five goals without conceding.

If they can win, United will sit five points clear of third-placed Doncaster Rovers and have a game in hand in the race for the second automatic promotion spot.

One-time runaway league leaders Swansea City are firmly in Carlisle’s sights as they look to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games and increase the pressure on the Welsh side.

Today’s opponents Gillingham are five points adrift of safety, but manager John Ward is not expecting an easy game, with a lot at stake for both sides. “People tell me Gillingham are fighting for their lives, but we’re fighting for our lives in our own way,” he said.

“It’s all set up for a great, competitive match and we’re very determined to make the most of this opportunity. The players share the same determination as I have.”

Ward brings new acquisition Paul Reid straight into the squad, after signing the 26-year-old on loan from Barnsley this week. Reid started his career at Brunton Park before moving to Glasgow Rangers, and Ward is very pleased to bring him back to the club.

He said: “Paul brings great experience to the side. It gives us competition for places now.”

The Carlisle boss is still without Jeff Smith, Joe Garner and Paul Thirlwell for the trip to Kent, but has no fresh injury concerns from last week as they look to continue their recent impressive form.

Danny Wilson’s Hartlepool United can do their neighbours a real favour this afternoon when they welcome pace-setters Swansea to Victoria Park.

This though is the last thing on Wilson’s mind as he looks for a win which will increase his own side’s faint hopes of promotion.

He said: “We’re looking to do ourselves a favour, we’re not bothered about Carlisle. We want to win on Saturday to get us up to 55 points and then you never know what might happen.”

Swansea are currently in the midst of their worst run of the season, having not won in six games.

Hartlepool will be without striker Richie Barker with a hamstring injury and defender Sam Collins, who has bruised ribs and Wilson is again ruing his side’s injury troubles. He said: “They are major blows, but we’ve just got to get on with it. It’s happened to us all season.”

Swansea duo Thomas Butler and Darryl Duffy return to their old stomping ground and Wilson expects both to get a warm welcome.

“We hope the two lads get a good reception because they did very well for us in their time at the club,” he said. “On the other hand, we don’t want it too encouraging. We’ve got to make the atmosphere uncomfortable.”