Carlisle United fans' loyalty deserves better, admits boss

While Simpson referred to the longer-term picture after the Blues’ defeat at Shrewsbury Town, the manager conceded it was crucial that things also improve in the short term.

A run of 12 defeats in 13 leaves the Cumbrians in miserable form and at risk of having relegation sealed over Easter.

Simpson says that, while he feels the bigger picture at Brunton Park is positive under the Piataks, the importance of the here and now in what is left of the League One season is also high.

“It’s absolutely enormous that we get something [better in the last eight games] because at the moment, we are in a huge slump,” said the manager.

• LISTEN: Simmo on Shrewsbury defeat, Blues' struggles, Piataks' backing and more

“And we’ve just got to keep working. I'm doing everything I can to try and keep all the positive things in my mind.

Paul Simpson (Image: Richard Parkes)

“I suppose it's difficult for supporters to see that because they just see the immediate – and it's something I want to change. I want to get results.

“Ideally, I want to get results in front of them at home. And we're going to keep working to do that.

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“I can assure everybody, there's no giving up. We’re going to keep going. The preparation starts to get ready for Stevenage next weekend.

“And we've got to give it everything we've possibly got to give the supporters a performance and a result that their loyalty has earned.”

United were backed by 559 travelling fans in the latest strong show of support for a struggling team on Saturday.

Home crowds have also remained high in spite of the Blues’ increasingly bereft form.

Simpson acknowledged the need to give the fanbase more hope for next season than his side is currently mustering.

“We have to. That's what we're trying to do,” he said.

“We didn't turn up [on Saturday], wanting to lose 1-0. We turned up trying to pick a team that was going to make us compact, trying to give us some more forward area play. But we just weren’t able to do it.”