Ward: We can take the heat

Apr 1 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

CARLISLE manager John Ward believes his players have the cool heads to cope as the mercury rises in the League One promotion race.

The Cumbrians stretched their impressive unbeaten run to 14 games with a goalless draw at Gillingham on Saturday, but that formidable record faces one of its sternest examinations in the shape of fellow promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest at Brunton Park tonight.

The game has captured the imagination of the Cumbrian public, with the club hoping for a crowd of over 10,000 to see them attempt to take another huge step towards the Championship.

Victory against Colin Calderwood’s side tonight would cut the gap to top-of-the-table Swansea down to four points while effectively eliminating Forest from the race for automatic promotion – and Ward is acutely aware of the significance of the contest.

With third-placed Doncaster still snapping at Carlisle’s heels Ward knows his side need to make the most of their game in hand, but he believes they will thrive under that pressure.

Ward said: “This is a big game – the kind every manager and player wants to be involved in. We’re not showing any nerves at the moment and the pleasing thing is the dressing room is full of cool heads.

“I don’t want to say that the players are relaxed about where they are in the league but we have a few lads who have been involved in successful promotion campaigns before and they are used to the pressure that it brings.

“They’ve achieved two promotions and they know what is required when the big games come around at the business end of the season. People have talked about me using my experience to help the players over the line but they have that experience themselves, and I’m sure it will prove invaluable.

“There is pressure on us, but equally there is pressure on Nottingham Forest because they are expected to be in the promotion race. I’m sure that will be motivation for them and we’re under no illusions about what a big game it is.”

Carlisle have been boosted by top scorer Danny Graham shaking off the hip injury he picked up at Priestfield on Saturday. The 15-goal former Middlesbrough striker trained with the squad yesterday and is expected to lead the line from the start against fellow promotion chasers Nottingham Forest.

Graham’s recovery means Ward will be able to name an unchanged line-up for the eighth successive game, a continuity that has proved crucial in maintaining the momentum of their promotion campaign.

“If you look at all the successful teams throughout the divisions they have that stability and that is the aim for every manager,” Ward said.

“We’ve been lucky enough to be able to field an unchanged team over the last few weeks and when we’ve been getting the results there is no reason for me to change things.” Forest may be struggling to match their pre-season status as promotion favourites but they still represent a big attraction in League One, and Ward is relishing their visit.

“This is the kind of game you look for when the fixtures come out,” he said. “It wasn’t so long ago they were in the Premier League and we were in non-league, so it’s fantastic for us to be competing with them. I remember when they were European champions and now we’re competing with them on an equal footing. But we’re confident -– we’re in a good position and we’re there on merit even though we are one of the smaller clubs in the race for promotion.

“It would be nice to get over 10,000 and the supporters can play their part by getting behind us. We’ve got five more home games to go and they can play a big, big part in getting us into the Championship.”