New Carlisle United boss Keith Millen believes substitutes should be capable of changing a game when brought on under certain circumstances.
Speaking after the 3-0 defeat at Northampton Millen stressed that he wants his subs to make an impact.
He used three against the Cobblers – Tristan Abrahams (27 mins), Manasse Mampala (65) and Joe Riley (76).
Millen said: “ We’ve got to have a way of playing that hurts the opposition and when our subs come on, I told them afterwards, they have to make more of an impact, otherwise what’s the point of putting subs on.
“They have to try and change the momentum of the game. For everyone, I spoke to them about the fact their body language is huge. If I go to a game and watch the team from the stands, you can pick up that they’re not in a good place, purely because of their body language.
“Heads did drop a little bit and you end up not working and running around as much, because you choose to hide away a little bit. That has to change, I won’t allow this group to let their heads drop. You can’t do that.”
The first substitution had been injury-related with Brennan Dickenson suffering a dead leg, which will be monitored during the week ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup-tie with Horsham.
In many ways it’s a free-hit for Carlisle, as their League position is clearly their priority but Horsham, despite their own League struggles will see this as a great opportunity to be Cup giant-killers.
A good, convincing win for the Cumbrians could kick-start their season and Millen is banking on the fans to get behind the team at Brunton Park for the tie.
He said: “I do feel for the fans because the travelling they do and on Saturday they were brilliant in their numbers.
“I said to them before, we’ll do everything we can to turn it round. And we will turn it round.
“Hopefully they’ll keep coming to watch us, keep supporting, but they’re as frustrated as all of us are. Probably more so, because they can’t do anything about it.
“But I feel for them, I really do. I know what it’s like. I can assure them, the players are hurting in the dressing room, but it’s not a dressing room who are that down or have thrown the towel in, nothing like that.
“It wasn’t going to be a quick turnaround, and nothing’s really changed. We’ve got a week now to put it right.”
Meanwhile Northampton Town boss Jon Brady admitted his side had not taken on the cream of League Two when they beat Carlisle on Saturday.
Brady said it was important his side kept their standards high even though harder tests lay ahead.
“We will come up against better opposition and that is no disrespect to Carlisle,” Brady told his club’s website.
“What we have to do is make sure we are always strong and resilient.”
Brady admitted his side had not produced a top-class performance but did enough to secure the points.
“It’s good to get another three points on the board, it wasn’t brilliant but it was job done,” he said.
