Chris Beech admits he expects Forest Green to be a “tough” obstacle to Carlisle United and their FA Cup ambitions tonight.

United and the Gloucestershire outfit meet for the second time in a bid to reach the third round.

Some £54,000 prize money and a trip to Championship side Cardiff are on offer to the winners (Brunton Park, 7.45pm).

Beech knows Mark Cooper’s side have a very familiar way of playing and will pose a difficult challenge in the second round replay.

“They are total possession-based football,” the head coach said.

“They’re very, very good. I expect it to be tough.”

Tonight’s game sees Beech take charge of United at their home ground for the first time, having started his reign with two away draws – 2-2 at Forest Green in the cup, and Saturday’s 1-1 league draw with Morecambe.

He said he is excited about his first opportunity in the home dugout but said the attention should be on his players tonight.

“That was the biggest thing for me, when we drew that game [at Forest Green] – that I get to meet everybody earlier,” Beech said.

“I’m thankful of that. But it’s not about me, it’s about the lads, and about the supporters.

“I’ll put plans in place, but you could have the best masterplan in the world but still have to have some congruent supportive behaviour.

“It’s there. The lads play the game.”

Beech could consider changes to his side tonight after Saturday’s draw with the EFL’s bottom side.

United, third bottom in the table, face a third-placed Forest Green side without a win in three games but who boast one of the strongest away records in the fourth tier.

Cooper’s side have won six and drawn two of their 10 league games on the road.

Tonight’s game is unlikely to attract a bumper crowd as a result of Carlisle’s struggling form.

The Cumbrians, though, took more than 1,200 fans to Morecambe on Saturday and Beech said he is in no doubt as to the scale and potential of the club.

“I don’t need telling,” he said. “I can see it when I just meet an individual in the street.

“When I see some gentleman buying a ticket, I’ll speak to them.

“I can feel what they feel, I understand what they want. I want it for them, I want it for me, and for the lads. I want it for everybody.

“We’re nearly there. It’s little differences that can really make a big difference, and we’re very close.”

Beech will again be without Jack Iredale tonight, whilst also hoping Harry McKirdy and Jack Bridge can make a quick return from their injuries.

Carlisle have won just once in nine games in all competitions and their display at Morecambe underwhelmed most supporters.

Beech, though, says he has seen things United can build on in his short tenure so far.

“You can see the lads are responding, you don’t need me to tell you that,” he said.

“Hallam Hope looked leggy in the last 10 minutes but he’s not played regularly – he’d only got one goal until I came in the building, he’s got one already in his first game for me.

“Nathan Thomas had only scored one goal, he got two last Saturday. The players that can help us, they’re stepping up.”

Beech added that his side must be prepared to go the distance tonight if they require extra-time and penalties to go through. “If we do, we do,” he said. “Whatever happens, we’ve got to find a way to win.

“I hope the supporters get right behind us. We’ve got to regroup [after Saturday] and do the right things to make sure we’re fully energised.”