Hughes says Carlisle United's rivals will now be "worried" - Iqraa news

Mark Hughes says Carlisle United’s rivals in the relegation battle will now be looking over their shoulders at the Blues.

The Cumbrians will be hoping their two-point gap to survival does not increase today while they are out of action.

Third-bottom Tranmere Rovers are at home to Port Vale while second-bottom Morecambe go to Gillingham.

Carlisle went level on points with Morecambe and two behind Tranmere with Thursday’s 1-0 win at Barrow.

Head coach Hughes said those directly above United in the League Two scrap will be feeling the heat now.

“They'll realise that maybe we're on the march to a certain degree and we're coming hopefully at a pace,” he said following the victory at Holker Street.

“Let's see what happens. I imagine they’ll be quite worried. They might think we’re on a little bit of a roll and with some momentum and that’s what we’ve got to maintain now.

“That's our intention – all we can hope for is that we do what we have to do and then see how the clubs around us can match what we can do.”

Hughes is giving his players a breather today after their exertions on Thursday were followed by a recovery day at the club on Friday.

Then from Sunday preparations will begin for Tuesday’s home clash with leaders Walsall as United look to make further inroads into the gap to survival.

“Each and every game will be like what we experienced [at Barrow] but that’s the way we want it – it’s the situation we find ourselves in and it’s up to us to embrace the challenge,” added Hughes.

Andy Crosby, left, takes temporary charge of third-bottom Tranmere against Port Vale today, while Derek Adams' second-bottom Morecambe, right, go to Gillingham (Image: Richard Parkes / Ben Holmes)

Tranmere will be under temporary boss Andy Crosby in their 12.30pm kick-off today after he stepped up following Nigel Adkins’ departure earlier this week.

The third-bottom Wirral outfit are winless in ten ahead of their meeting with Crosby’s sixth-placed former club Vale.

Morecambe, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five as they take on a 19th-placed Gillingham side who have not won in 13.

Fourth-bottom Harrogate Town, who are seven points above United ahead of next weekend’s clash with the Blues, host fifth-bottom Accrington Stanley, who are level on points with Simon Weaver’s side.

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