In the end, we were relatively pleased with the point we picked up from our 1-1 draw with Exeter City.

We didn’t start very well and we have been guilty of being slow starters on occasions this season, like we were on Saturday. But, gradually, we did get into the game.

Early on, I think we gave Matt Taylor’s team too much respect. We didn’t press aggressively enough - we got lucky a couple of times, but eventually, they did get their goal through Nicky Law as their pressure paid off.

After we made a little change at half-time, we were much better in the second half. The stats proved it.

Exeter are a good side and Jamie Devitt came up trumps with his excellent free-kick to put us back on level terms, so it was a good point in the end against a good team, so you have to try to remain upbeat, don’t you?

We had chances to win the match. If the game had gone on another five minutes, we probably could have won it but, to come back after a pretty poor first 25 minutes or so, shows good character from the players.

When we played Exeter at St James Park on the opening day of the season, we were pretty average down there to say the least as we lost 3-1 despite Richie Bennett’s goal. 

This time, we wanted to show what we are all about. We got a point, take our current run to three matches unbeaten, so there were definitely some positives to take.

We also had integrated a few of the new lads that we had signed in the January transfer window.

Mark Cullen got a little bit of time on the pitch in front of the crowd at Brunton Park, Stefan Scougall got half a game, and both Callum O’Hare and Nathan Thomas started the game. They all did alright but I’m sure there is definitely more to come from all the new lads.

It was pleasing to see them all get the chance to show a little bit of what they are about.

Obviously, we got to see what they were like with their parent clubs - O’Hare at Aston Villa especially - with videos of games they have played for them. 

Then, after they’ve signed, you get to see what they are like in training, and then you just hope they make an impact on the pitch.

O’Hare did well, Scougall did well when he came on, and winger Thomas did well in patches. There is definitely more to come from those boys, though, and the team as a whole as they continue to integrate together.

Looking ahead to tonight’s game at Crewe, it’s a chance for them all to get more time on the pitch in a Carlisle shirt and the chance to help us to try to get another positive result.

Devitt’s goal at the weekend came from another superb free-kick and he has been on fire lately, he is doing very well. There were rumours in the window that we might lose him - with his contract up in the summer - but he has stayed with us.

He has done well and we just need him to keep doing what he has been doing, really.

At Crewe’s Alexandra Stadium, we have a good record, as they do at our place really, which is a bit ridiculous.

We’re looking forward to the game. We have a lot of energy, and loads of enthusiasm in the team now, as well as some really good quality players, so we are all really looking forward to getting our teeth into the game.

David Artell’s men are on a really good run and are unbeaten in their last five matches.

I’m sure they will be a bit devastated to have conceded right at the death in their 3-3 draw at Macclesfield Town on Saturday, having looked to have claimed all three points when George Ray scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Scoring five minutes into second-half stoppage-time, you think the game is over, but to then concede in the seventh minute of stoppage-time maybe they will still be a bit down from that, I’m not too sure. But that will definitely hurt. But we will need to be careful.

Crewe teams always try to play in the right manner, they like to play football, and they have a few players who are dangerous, including ex-United striker Shaun Miller. But we do our homework on everyone that we play.

It will be no different ahead of tonight’s game.

This will be our second of three very tough matches this week, with MK Dons due to visit Brunton Park on Saturday, and this run of fixtures will be a big test of where our side is at.

If we can get a good result tonight, and then take that result into this weekend’s match against Paul Tisdale’s team, as well trying to get an 8,000 crowd that we are looking for, for the MK Dons match, trying to get a good crowd in, it could end up being a really good week for us.

We just need to make sure that we maintain our standards.

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It was good to see our side progress through to the Cumberland Cup semi-final as they claimed a 3-1 victory at Cleator Moor Celtic.

Nowadays, there isn’t as many first-team players involved in the squad for those kind of matches as there were when I was playing.

So, overall, academy manager Darren Edmondson has done very well to get them to the semi-final stage of the competition.

The weather wasn’t great for last Tuesday’s quarter-final tie.

But the young lads stood up well against the current holders of the competition and, now, they just need to keep doing what they are doing.

Playing in those kinds of games is great for getting them used to playing in a first-team environment.

They did themselves proud and they are now in the semi-final and will be waiting to find out who they get - whoever that may be - and then will look to win one more game to reach a final.

No matter what competition it is, you just try to win it. So far, the young lads have done really well.

Obviously, there were a few experienced first-team players who were also involved at JBV Park in west Cumbria last week, as well as the young players.

Popular midfield man Jason Kennedy was one of those, and it was brilliant for him to get 90 minutes after the recent injury problems that he has had in the last few years. The 32-year-old got a goal, too, to cap off his performance while Taylor Charters and Keighran Kerr were both also on target.

Keeper Louis Gray is another player from the first-team squad who has also been able to get some regular football under his belt in this competition which has been good for his confidence and his fitness.