CARLISLE are eyeing a hat-trick of away wins in their first Valley Parade visit for six years.

Steven Pressley’s Cumbrians have enjoyed successive triumphs on the road at struggling duo Scunthorpe and Stevenage.

They followed that up with a midweek home draw against Forest Green, a rare clean sheet for a side with one of League Two’s worst defensive records.

That pleased Pressley, even if they had a man advantage for the last 18 minutes after James Morton was sent off for the visitors.

Forest Green’s travelling tactics, as the Bantams will testify, can be a challenge to play against and the point continued Carlisle’s slow improvement after a stuttering start to the campaign.

"It was a really good and organised performance and we did it against a very good side that has been in the making for three years,” said Pressley. “The other great thing for us is a clean sheet.

"I want us to play attacking, fast football but also our defenders need to gain confidence and they will have from that.”

City will have to be wary of the pace of Carlisle forward Harry McKirdy, who scored twice in last weekend’s success at Stevenage.

“He’s a devastating player when he’s at it,” is his manager’s verdict.

McKirdy and fellow frontman Nathan Thomas also came in for praise from Pressley for the defensive side of their game against Forest Green.

“Thomas and McKirdy seem to receive praise for their attacking prowess, and their ability to score and create goals, but they were crucial to the way we played.

"Their tactical discipline was really important and a lot of their work will have gone unnoticed."

“If we’re going to develop and progress as a team, then they need to be doing that kind of work and I was really proud of them in that respect.”