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"What a great result in midweek for everybody involved in the chase. It sets everything up now. We've got seven games left, four at home and our home form has been brilliant so let's hope we can carry on that way. We know what we have to do. We're playing on a Friday night, we're at home and the atmosphere is usually electric. We've done well here on a Friday night and we need the support again. If ever we need the support from the people of Wirral it's now.
"It was disappointing for everybody to lose at Bournemouth, there's no doubt about that. But we're still in there. We've got to stay positive, myself, the players and the crowd. We could do with a great crowd here on Friday. This game is so crucial for us now. I'm asking the public that if ever they want to come and support us, this is the time. The atmosphere on a Friday here is magnificent. We have to make sure we light the blue torch paper and it happens for us.
"We're trying our hardest to get out of this league. Sometimes you might look at the players and think they're not, but that's football and that is this league. Every team bar Scunthorpe has been up and down. There has been no real consistency in there.
"No disrespect to the players but they must have a flaw to be at this level. You just hope they knit together as a team. I think our team has knitted together quite well when you consider how many we brought in. One of the biggest problems for managers at this level is getting consistency. It must be great being Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho knowing when you send 11 players out there what you're going to get."
"It's no good people moaning that we've lost on Saturday and we lost the last home match, they've gone. We need to be bright. If we win on Friday we're bang in there with a great shout and we kill Carlisle off more or less. If people are looking for something to do on Friday night then get yourselves down here.
"It will be a hard game. Carlisle will think they've got a chance as well. If they beat us they're level with us on points and anything can happen. We went there and it was the first time we'd tried 4-3-3. In the first half it didn't work, but in the second half we battered them. Jason McAteer got on the ball and passed it and we caused them no end of problems. I thought we did enough to win the game up there.
"With (Karl) Hawley injured (Derek) Holmes is now playing up front. He's big and strong and puts himself about. The lad (Danny) Graham who is on loan from Middlesbrough has good experience so we know they're a good side. Both full backs are attacking minded so I don't think it will be one of those games where they come here and sit back. I think it will be a wide open game and hopefully great for the crowd to watch.
"It is a blow to lose Ian Goodison. But John Thompson isn't a million miles away. We'll leave him until the last minute and he has a chance. We've got Shane who can move in one and Carl Tremarco can come in at left back. But you do miss somebody of Ian Goodison's nature. He has been tremendous this season for us."
In Tranmere team news centre-half John Thompson will have a late fitness test on his knee and could return in place of skipper Ian Goodison, Jamaican international Goodison being suspended after being sent off for two yellow cards in the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend. As already mentioned, if Thompson fails to pass his late fitness test, then Shane Sherriff will move from left-back to the centre of defence with Carl Tremarco coming in at full-back.
Meanwhile Dutch goalkeeper John Achterberg is set to be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury picked up in a 2-0 win at Yeovil last month. Influential former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Paul McLaren will also be out of contention after suffering an ankle injury in training last week, with ex-Republic of Ireland international Jason McAteer likely to take his place. Definitely missing as well will be Mike Jones and Steve Jennings who are out on loan to Shrewsbury and Hereford respectively.
The referee for tomorrow night's match is Neil Swarbrick from Walton-le-Dale in Lancashire, and he will be assisted down the lines by Carl Dunn from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire and Russell Green from Lancashire. Meanwhile the fourth official will be John Stokes from the Wirral.