Last updated 13:48, Tuesday, 07 October 2008

THERE’S more than one reason for Danny Livesey to dip into the archives and come up with something positive as Carlisle United try to blast defeatism from their system at Rochdale tonight.

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Livesey: I remember scoring and getting kicked in the face

Few Blues fans need reminding of their last trip to Spotland – a joyous 2-0 win in May 2006, in which Livesey scored, confirming Paul Simpson’s team as League Two champions.

It’s also convenient to recall that, several months earlier that campaign, United suffered a four-match losing streak which was just as frustrating as their similar run of defeats at present.

Just now, no-one can predict with a straight face that Carlisle’s season will end as spectacularly as 2005/6. But tonight’s destination nevertheless offers a reminder that a sequence of struggle does not necessarily have to explode an entire campaign if it is stopped quickly.

Tonight’s trip, which might previously have been assumed to be a modest cup squabble, has therefore assumed much more significance according to Livesey.

“That was a fantastic night in 2006 and it meant we won the league unless Northampton scored 14 goals or something in their next game,” recalled the 23-year-old defender, the only player from that victory with a chance of starting tonight.

“I remember scoring and getting kicked in the face at the same time.

“It was a brilliant occasion and hopefully this will be just as important if we can go down there and get a result.”

Livesey admits to being perplexed by Carlisle’s crash in form and fortune, but does not dodge the criticism now flowing in the direction of the players and manager John Ward.

“No-one is carving us open – we are just giving teams goals and it’s not good enough,” he said. “We know it’s got to stop.

“We will all take a look at ourselves and the only way out of this is by sticking together and working hard.

“There’s no point getting on anyone’s back and slating the team, because it’s the same team that was doing so well at the start of the season. We need to dig deep, stick together and stop giving these stupid goals away.”

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Tranmere triggered noisy unrest in the Brunton Park crowd. Perfectly understandable, says Livesey, but the centre-half also insists the supporters are now needed more than ever.

“They’ve stuck with us for a while, and all we ask is that they stick with us now,” he said. “I can understand their frustrations.

“But if they come in that changing room and look at the lads they will see how disappointed they are. We don’t just go home and forget about it. If the fans stay with us, we’ll turn it around.

“When you look at that changing room there are people in there you would want to get you out of this. We’re the only ones who can change it. We just need to get a bit of the rub of the green, and start games better than we are doing instead of being on the back foot so early.

“That’s the way to get our confidence back and once we come out of this run it will get put to one side.”

And so to Rochdale – a League Two side not exactly in pedigree form themselves after a grim 2-0 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge – and the hope of a modest revival.

“It’s always nice to get a game quickly when you haven’t played particularly well,” added former Bolton man Livesey, who had a 13-game loan spell at Spotland in 2004.

“The lads will be raring to go and there’s more pressure on it now.

“Anyone from Saturday’s game who doesn’t play at Rochdale doesn’t really have the right to go knocking on the manager’s door.

“Whoever is picked, if we go there and play the way we can, there’s no reason why we can’t get a result. We’re a confidence team and as soon as we pick up a result we’ll be flying again.”

JColman@cngroup.co.uk