Cumbrians’ fortunes are finally turning for the better

AN overall much-improved display from Carlisle United at Hartlepool on Good Friday yielded just the one point as lady luck yet again failed to lend a helping hand to the increasingly frustrated Cumbrians.

Results elsewhere on this busy weekend of fixtures left things looking better than they otherwise could have as Carlisle opened up a two-point gap on the play-off chasing pack.

However, they cannot avoid the fact they missed a trick against the struggling and relegation-haunted Pools.

United manager Keith Curle said: “They had one shot on target and they scored.

“The rub of the green is still not with us but the indications are there the confidence is coming back.

“We started well and created really good chances and we rarely looked under any real threat.

“The important thing now is we take the energy, determination and drive we showed into another tough game against Stevenage on Monday.

“The nerves everyone right across the division is feeling have been highlighted by a set of results which have left us in a very good position.

“We have to capitalise on that and make sure the point we took at Hartlepool becomes the first of two very good results.”

Stevenage should provide a much tougher test, having mounted a play-off push with a solid and impressive run of form since the turn of the year.

However, a return to something like his best for striker Jabo Ibehre could be just the pick-me-up Carlisle need as they look for the results which will keep their season alive beyond the final scheduled weekend of fixtures.

The 11-goal forward said. “I am back now and I feel good.

“I have two goals from the last two games and it could have been more.

“The confidence and belief is there for all of us because we know it is in our hands.

“We know we were the better side on Friday and that is what we have to focus on when we play in the games coming up.

“We are a tough team to play against when we are moving the ball quickly, getting it wide and backing each other up.

“Our home form has not been the best recently and that is something we want to put right for our fans.

“The noise in the away end was incredible and they will do that for us again at our place if we give them something to shout about. That has to be our aim.”

If Carlisle do make it into the play-off shake-up it will be courtesy of a stum- Carlisle United manager Keith Curle (above) and inset right, Jabo Ibehre who was on target against Hartlepool United Pictures: MARK FULLER ble across the line rather than from any real show of force but that will not trouble too many people – as long as the job gets done.

Curle added: “I keep repeating that when you are in a position like this with just four games to go it is about the results and not how you get them.

“If we finish in the top seven there is not going to be one person who will care too much about how we did it.

“If we put on good performances, excellent, we will take that.

“If we have to scrap every step of the way to do it we will take that as well.

“It is a big challenge because there is a nervous edge to what we do at the moment - but it is a challenge we are all looking forward to meeting head on.”