Dennis Booth made his name in football working with Graham Taylor

Carlisle United first-team coach Dennis Booth believes that Cumbrians boss Greg Abbott is showing his potential as a manager after a difficult start.

Abbott and Booth, who celebrate a year in charge at Gillingham on Saturday, will go into the match having won their last three games.

"He's a young manager with some good ideas," Booth told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"He's worked with a lot of people and I'm pleased for him that he's turned things around."

Booth, 60, who has spent much of his coaching career under Graham Taylor, has been at Carlisle on an on-and-off basis since 2003. And he has built up a strong rapport with Abbott in that time.

Carlisle's current run of three straight wins (scoring 10 goals in the process) has lifted Abbott's side into the top half of the League One table, as well as earning an FA Cup third round tie at Everton on 2 January.

It makes for a pleasant contrast with their form over the second half of last season when they won just three of their last 21 league games and finished just a point clear of relegation.

And Booth backs the in-form Blues to continue their impressive form this Saturday despite Gillingham's home record at the Priestfield, where they have lost just once.

"They've got a very good home record," said Booth. "And I believe that, out of a possible 30 points, they've only got one away from home, so obviously down there they've been doing well.

"But that doesn't faze us now. We're pleased we think we can win when we go away from home.

"We started well at MK Dons, then struggled but we came through it.

"Playing at home or away from home hasn't been a problem to us.

"Earlier in the season it was a problem to us at home but away we've always done quite well and we'll go to Priestfield with a massive chance."

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