Paul Simpson says Carlisle United must try and spoil the party at Derby County in their last chance to impress before relegation.
The Blues are preparing for their final game of the 2023/24 campaign.
And it will come at a packed Pride Park where the home club need just a point to guarantee promotion.
The game is also being shown live on Sky Sports with the Rams hot favourites to clinch a return to the Championship.
They will attempt to do so against the bottom-placed Blues, and Simpson wants his team to give their all to the very end.
“I just hope the players rise to the occasion,” said Simpson.
“When you dream of being a footballer you don’t dream of one man and his dog watching you – you dream about playing in packed houses, proper football stadiums, and Pride Park is a proper football stadium.
“They’ve got everything to play for. We’re going there to try and spoil it for them and I hope we can do ourselves justice – whoever is fit and selected to play has to go and prepare to stand up and be counted.”
Carlisle are taking a four-figure away support for their League One swansong, in what is their first-ever league game at Derby’s ground.
The game kicks off at 12.30pm and Simpson says he is delighted – but not surprised – at the level of backing his side will get from the Blue Army despite Carlisle’s relegation having long been confirmed amid a dismal League One season.
“Let’s hope that we go and do ourselves justice with our performance in what will be a really tough game,” added Simpson, who is a former Derby player and coach.
“We have to show a spirit, a desire, a determination. Then hopefully if we start with all that sort of stuff we can show some football ability.
“You have to want to go into that sort of environment, and not shy away from it – you have to want to go into a 30-odd thousand stadium and show what you’re about.”
A Derby win or draw would be enough for promotion.
If, though, Carlisle pull off a shock win, it would open the door for Bolton Wanderers to snatch second place. The third-placed Trotters are three points behind the Rams with a goal difference that is inferior by four, though they have scored seven more goals.
Bolton go to Peterborough United on Saturday.
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