North End boss Simon Grayson spoke to his club's official website ahead of his side's League One game against Carlisle at Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon, Grayson expecting a tough match:
“I think when you look at Carlisle’s results, they are unbeaten in five and have had two great away victories in their last two games at Doncaster and Oldham. They have produced good performances and are safe in the division so they will be trying to carry on that momentum that they have produced in the last five games. So, it will be a tough game, I am sure we will have a good amount of supporters going up there and we want to build off our results as well, so everything is geared towards a good game played in the right manner and two teams in half-decent form.
“It could be an entertaining game and I am sure that Greg Abbott will be the same as myself that he will want to win every game from now until the end of the season, because the team and the individuals are playing for their futures. So, I am sure they won’t be letting off the gas and we certainly won’t because we will be reiterating to the players on a daily basis now that the season hasn’t finished and we want to win all the games, and our players are playing for their futures as well.
“It is a possibility that I might look at some other squad members, one or two have picked up a few niggles here and there. So, we will give them all an opportunity to be fir for the game then hopefully I will go and pick a team that goes out and performs and gets a result. The supporters have been very good no matter where we have played, we have been out in numbers and this will be another game. It is probably a local derby for Carlisle, not that there are many teams up there, so we will go there in good spirit and again try to produce a performance for our supporters.”
Meanwhile centre-half Bailey Wright commented to the official North End website:
“The target now is to win as many games as we can, we want to climb that table as high as possible and leave our mark on the league. We haven’t had the season that we all hoped and pushed for, but to give ourselves the best chance for next year we have to start a run now and look to continue it next season. We can set a marker for everyone else, so that they know what we are all about next year.
“Carlisle is a tough place to go, they are a good team and I am sure there will be a good following because it is their derby I suppose for Carlisle. So, it will be good and we will look to continue our run. Both sides are in form, we have been doing well and we are high on confidence so and it will be different from the game there early in the season. We will be looking to get a win this time after the draw and winning on penalties. We always go into every game wanting to it but it will be a tough game.”
In team news for the Lilywhites tomorrow afternoon they have doubts over quite a lot of players after some midweek injury problems in their 2-0 home win over Oldham. Striker Stuart Beavon (shoulder), right-back Paul Connolly (leg) and central midfielder Nicky Wroe (calf) all taking knocks in that game, while right-back Keith Keane has been playing through a hernia problem recently and winger Lee Holmes continues to struggle with a hamstring strain. Meanwhile, definitely out are left-back Scott Laird who is still working his way back to full fitness following a broken leg in November, and central midfielder Joel Byrom is in the same boat following a recent hernia operation.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Andy Madley from Ossett in West Yorkshire and he will be assisted down the lines by Warren Broadbent from Sunderland and Barry Gordon from Chester-le-Street. Meanwhile the fourth official is Dave McCallum from Wallsend.