Carlisle head to Meadow Park today for their biggest test of the National League season so far (Image: Ben Holmes / Richard Parkes)
Carlisle head to Meadow Park today for their biggest test of the National League season so far (Image: Ben Holmes / Richard Parkes)
Rob Elliot admits a win for Carlisle United at Boreham Wood today would make people sit up and take notice.
But the Blues boss said the quality of his side’s performance is just as important to him today.
United take on Luke Garrard’s National League leaders (Mangata Developments Stadium Meadow Park, 5.30pm) in the clubs’ first meeting since Boreham Wood ended the Blues’ promotion hopes in last season’s play-offs.
The Hertfordshire side are the early pacesetters as Carlisle seek a first away win of 2026/27.
Elliot says a Blues victory would be eyecatching but how they go about their work matters as much.
“If you go to a team that’s top of the league and win, I think everyone takes notice,” said Elliot, who will have new midfielder Teddy Jenks in his squad for the first time.
“But performance matters too.
“The Worthing game [United’s 3-2 defeat on the opening day] was the most one-sided game I've ever been involved in.
“I’ve had a bit of a joke with [former Worthing player] Teddy about that.
“You can be absolutely superb and lose, and it makes it seem worse than it is.
New signing Teddy Jenks could make his debut for the Blues today
(Image: PA)
“At the same time you can be really poor and win and it covers up the cracks.
“So yes, a million percent we want to go there and win – we want to win every single game – but it's the nature of how we go about it.
“Not just for me, but for the fans and everyone, it's important how we take on new challenges and how we back ourselves to do that.”
Elliot must decide whether to throw new boy Jenks straight into action this afternoon or whether to involve him from the bench initially.
United do not appear to have anyone back from the treatment room in time for today’s game, with defenders Toby Mullarkey and Kenton Richardson again unlikely to figure.
While today’s game sees the division’s highest and third-highest scorers meet, Carlisle are also pursuing a first clean sheet of the campaign.
Set-piece defending proved costly as they conceded twice in the 4-2 win against Scunthorpe, and Elliot admits it is an area where his side must improve.
“Teams aren't scoring from the first contact – the goals have come from the second and third phase, which is just about that little bit of concentration when the ball's bouncing around, making sure you get contact with your man, making sure you defend it,” the head coach said.
Elliot admits United must improve on their defending of set-piece situations (Image: Ben Holmes)
“So we're defending the initial ones well. It's just when the ball does drop down where we definitely need to improve and be a bit leaner.
“It’s that counterbalance between leading people up the pitch, because we want to make sure we only have one attack to deal with, and getting secure and bringing people back.
“We'll get that balance right and we'll get there, but it’s definitely something we can improve on.”