After tackling Matt Taylor’s side on Saturday, Carlisle United are preparing to face Matt Taylor’s team tomorrow!
But although the managers’ names haven’t changed, United will be looking to alter the result against different opposition.
There are two Matt Taylors – one in charge of Exeter, and the other Walsall – and having failed in Devon they have the chance to fashion a much-needed win at Brunton Park against the Saddlers.
United boss Keith Millen was encouraged, in some ways, by the gritty performance in a 2-1 defeat at Exeter when they played for over half the game with ten men.
But that wasn’t carried forward to mid-week when Tuesday’s home game with Harrogate produced a 2-0 defeat.
Ending a 12-match winless streak is a must with the transfer window still over a month away and Millen has revealed how he changed his normal analysis meeting of the last game.
Keith Millen said: “Normally meetings are led by myself. I review the game with the players on video clips generally, talking about what went well and what didn’t go so well.
“I didn’t feel that was the sort of meeting I wanted this time. There wasn’t really any video work, it was more the players talking about where we are and the situation we’re in.
“I thought that was important because it can’t just be my voice all the time. The more communication we can have, the more ideas the players come up with, it’s got to be better rather than just me driving that.
“It was a good, open discussion with all the players. I encourage that, I want the players to communicate and talk about the game more.
“It’s just the way footballers are these days, it’s not a natural thing anymore. But you have to try and encourage it and create that environment and atmosphere where, even the young lads in the meeting, I want them to have a voice and opinion. They might come up with something we hadn’t thought about.
“It was a positive meeting. There were a lot of things said that will stay in the dressing room, a lot of honest conversation. I think everyone knows where we stand, and we’ll see.
“It’s not so much about the performance because I think the performances have been ok. I’m hoping the mindset will be a little bit different come Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Walsall’s Matt Taylor has been putting a different spin on the opposition as he prepares for the trip north after a very good 1-0 win at Port Vale in midweek.
He told the Express and Star: “I would argue the position they’re in doesn’t reflect the group of players they have. We must approach the game as we always do, with respect for the opposition.
“One thing you can’t question is our work rate, effort and desire. We’ll need those again to get the result we want.”
Tuesday night’s match-winner Brendan Kiernan is Walsall’s only doubt for the game. After scoring the goal he had to come-off with a foot injury.
Taylor said: “That’s going to be a last-minute call. It’s quite a deep cut, and we’ll give him as long as we possibly can before making a decision.”
