Chris Beech has admitted that winning games must currently take priority over trying to get Carlisle United to play the kind of football he wants.

The head coach and his side face a crucial game in the League Two relegation battle tomorrow when Grimsby visit Brunton Park.

It gives United the opportunity to leapfrog one of their rivals at the wrong end of the table and increase the five-point gap above bottom place ahead of the festive period.

Beech is unbeaten so far as Blues boss having drawn his first two games and won Tuesday’s FA Cup second round replay against Forest Green.

United’s league position, though, remains precarious and Beech says victories are more important than anything else right now.

“I know where we are in the league, and we need to win games,” he said. “And I will reward the players for winning games. Because that’s what we all want.

“The currency of first-team football is winning. I want to play possession-based football, I want to play like Forest Green, but I’ve got to get two or three-year turnovers to get to that point.

“While we can’t, we can give 100 per cent and a little bit more to make sure we represent winning.”

Tomorrow sees Beech’s first Brunton Park league game and United will be seeking to build on Tuesday’s efforts in the cup, which secured a third round trip to Cardiff and £54,000 prize money.

Beech says he is enjoying the challenge of improving United’s fortunes and says Carlisle should be capable of better.

“I just want Carlisle people to enjoy coming to this football club,” he said. “We’re obviously not the biggest budget and not the biggest team, but the history suggests we are.

“We’ve got to try and find a way to make us better at the moment, and support that, while we look at improving.”

Beech says he is trying to encourage short-term improvements in certain players in order to help United’s fortunes.

They have won just one of their last nine league games, although their current unbeaten run of four games in all competitions is better than any such sequence under ex-boss Steven Pressley.

Aaron Hayden’s goal earned them Tuesday night’s narrow win against third-placed Forest Green with neither side able to take further chances.

Beech said: “I’ve been working really hard individually with players, because they’ve been sleepwalking – they need waking up.

“I’ve spoken to Ryan Loft [for example] about the extra five yards. If I played with Nathan Thomas, and he’s on the football, I’m 100 per cent getting in that six-yard box.

“The extra five yards will provide him and others with more goals.”

Beech is again set to be without Jack Iredale (knee) and Jack Bridge (ankle) while Byron Webster will be assessed after going off injured late in Tuesday’s game. Jon Mellish is set to return to training today after a dead leg.

The head coach is also preparing for the January transfer window, having sent coach Nathan Rooney on two recent scouting trips. He will also need to address the future of versatile defender Gethin Jones, whose short-term deal is up next month.

Jones, more often used at right-back, was fielded at left-back on Tuesday. Beech said: “I know Gethin from Everton, he used to play against my youth teams, and I know him from Fleetwood from playing against him. I know his adaptability.

“I know he marked our best player at Rochdale, Ian Henderson, out of a game when we played Fleetwood once.

“He can do it. I’ve challenged him to show more aggression. On the side when his opponent receives the ball, I count the touches, ‘one, two, three…’ I want minimal touches. Hopefully get there before [the opponent] touches it. But if we cut that down in each place on the pitch, it will mean we’re winning the ball back more often.”