EXCLUSIVEBy Jon Colman

Last updated 23:29, Thursday, 15 May 2008

CHRIS Lumsdon has revealed the personal heartache behind his inspirational performance at Leeds which has put Carlisle United on the brink of Wembley.

Bridge-Wilkinson: The midfielder was superb in the first leg on Monday

The Blues’ midfielder learned shortly before kick-off in Monday’s first leg that his uncle Paul Viggor had died of a heart attack.

Lumsdon played through his grief at Elland Road and was one of United’s best players in their 2-1 victory.

He will wear a black armband in memory of his uncle in tonight’s second leg at Brunton Park and said reaching the play-off final at Wembley would be the perfect tribute to Mr Viggor, from Longbenton, Newcastle, who was one of his biggest fans.

“He died a couple of hours before the game and it was a bit of a bolt out of the blue,” said 28-year-old Lumsdon.

“My family told me just to stay focused. I didn’t tell the gaffer or anything like that – I just wanted to keep it close to me, get on with the game and then deal with it afterwards.

“He used to come down to watch me and he’s been to a fair few games up here as well.

“Every summer, at the end of every season, I used to go and see him for a few pints. The last few years have been success all the way for us and we’ve enjoyed it together.

“It’s hit the family and it’s a bit of a shock, but I’ve just got to get on with it and hopefully give him the best send-off by going to Wembley.”

Lumsdon said his uncle, who was in his early fifties, was a well-known character in his local social club and would have been backing the Blues tonight.

“He would either have been here at Brunton Park or had everyone round at the club, because they all turn into Carlisle fans because of him,” the midfielder added.

“He got them all round to watch the Conference play-off final and it would have been the same for this one.

“Monday was a bit of an emotional day. He would have wanted me to play and I’m sure he was up there watching, with a brown ale and a ‘rolley’!

“I’ve just got to put it to the back of my mind for this game and I’ll think about him after. If we get through I’ll have a bottle of brown ale for him.”

Lumsdon believes tonight’s second leg is United’s most important game since that Conference final against Stevenage in 2005, when the Blues won promotion back to the Football League.

And he dismissed the idea that either side have any major advantage tonight, despite Carlisle leading the tie by one goal but Leeds claiming some momentum after Dougie Freedman’s late goal on Monday.

“There’s absolutely no psychological edge at all,” Lumsdon said. “It’s 0-0, we’ve got to score, they’ve got to score and it will be another great game.

“There are two good teams and sets of players there who have got a lot of respect for each other. None of the games between Carlisle and Leeds have been nasty – it’s played in a good spirit on the pitch.

“The way Leeds’ goal came has probably got us more focused. We know it’s another normal game and we need to go for it again.”

Manager John Ward is likely to retain his lone striker system with Lumsdon again forming a central midfield trio with Bridge-Wilkinson and Grant Smith.

“People call it a 4-5-1 but we know it’s an attacking formation if we get it right,” said Lumsdon.

He added: “It was a great surface at Leeds and we always do well on good surfaces. I still believe if our pitch had been as good as last year we would already be up by now.

“But it’s the same for both teams and we really need our fans to come down and cheer for us, because last time they got us through the game.

“On Monday the Leeds fans didn’t really turn on them, even when they were two down. They kept singing and if ours can do that and back us all the way, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

JColman@cngroup.co.uk