Blues hotshot Linney's sights on season finale - and play-offs

Regan Linney says he’s still hungry for more goals as he tries to reward Carlisle United’s incredible following with promotion.

The top scorer, whose goal at Truro City sealed third place for the Blues, is now preparing for the final game of the league campaign – and then the play-offs.

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Linney took his tally to 23 for the season with the winner in Cornwall.

And he still has personal and collective targets to shoot for.

“I wanted 20 in the league, there’s still one game to go before the play-offs, and hopefully I can get that,” said Linney, who has 19 league goals and four in the cups.

“I've had a decent season, it could have been a lot better, but to still get 23 goals is a decent season, I'm happy with that.

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“Obviously I'd be delighted if I managed to score a goal in the play-off semi-final, but as long as we get the result, that's the main thing, as long as we get a chance to play at Wembley and [compete for promotion].

“All the boys will be raring to go, hopefully get another win against Brackley, finish the season strong and go into those play-offs.”

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Linney scored in front of a remarkable 880-strong away support at Truro – the kind of moment that summed up why he joined Carlisle last summer.

“I've always wanted to play in front of large crowds and play for a team where the support's massive,” he said.

“This club is football mad, the fans and everything, so to be able to give them a little bit back by scoring goals and making their journey worthwhile, I'm delighted with that.”

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Carlisle did not cruise to the points against the National League’s bottom side and Linney admitted they were below their best, even as they got the job done.

“I didn't think I was decent [in the game], I thought I was off it, but we managed to create that one chance and put it away, so I'm delighted with that.

“I think a lot of the lads were off it, but we managed to get the win. They were already relegated as well, so we probably expected to batter them today, which we should be doing, but we haven't.

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“But the main thing was that we got the win and secured that third spot.

“I couldn't really put my finger on [why we were below our best]. I don't know if we were tired, if we were just off it. I think we were really slow in that first half, but we knew if we kept creating chances, we'd end up getting one and we'd put it away, and that's what we managed to do.”

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Carlisle will need to raise their game when the play-offs come around, Linney admitted.

“Of course – we’ve got to take it up levels and levels,” he said.

“The fans came travelled in their numbers [to Truro], which we're grateful for. We wish we could have put on a better show for them, but the main thing is getting the result, getting that third spot and moving on into the play-offs.”

Linney’s keenness for more goals means he would sooner face Brackley than be rested with the play-offs in mind.

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“I’ll tell you one thing, I won’t be passing to Dave [Ajiboye] again,” he laughed, referring to Ajiboye’s missed chance in the second half at Truro. “I’m joking. But hopefully I get that 20th league goal and reach my target.”

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