Keith Curle insists he is “desperate” to end his transfer frustration and land the players who can keep Carlisle United’s promotion dream alive.

The Blues manager, whose side were beaten 4-1 by leaders Northampton on Saturday, said he is doing all he can to bolster his squad.

United remain in the play-off chase despite their heavy defeat at the hands of the Cobblers.

Victory at Dagenham tomorrow could put the inconsistent Cumbrians level with seventh-placed AFC Wimbledon.

Curle conceded United need new faces but said his failure to bring in loan signings recently is NOT because Carlisle are being priced out of the market.

“There’s nobody more frustrated than me,” he said.

“I’m doing the travelling, the research, identifying the players, speaking to agents, speaking to players.

“You think you’re getting close, and then for a variety of reasons, you end up with not what you’re after.

“I’m not going to stop looking. I’ve not closed the door. I’m desperate to get players here that I think can add to us this season.”

Curle was thwarted in his latest attempts to make new signings last week and would not be drawn on whether a breakthrough was likely before the Dagenham game.

The emergency loan window closes in 17 days’ time, while 11th-placed United are heading south today as they start a gruelling week which also includes a mammoth trip to Exeter next weekend.

Curle added: “I’ve got money to spend - it’s not as if I’m being priced out of the market.

“It’s not that deals are falling through because we can’t match people’s expectations or wage demands.

“It’s the case that I can’t get people sat down in front of me to sell the football club, myself, our ideas and philosophy.

“Things will change. Clubs are well within their rights to wait and find out if, because we are showing interest, anybody else is showing interest

“It is frustrating but we’ve got no right to force clubs to loan us their players. What we can do is put good cases forward.”

Curle said “soft goals” and slack defending cost United against Chris Wilder’s side as they fell to their heaviest home league defeat of the season.

John-Joe O’Toole scored twice with John Marquis and James Collins also on target for Northampton, with sub Hallam Hope grabbing United’s consolation.

Curle added: “You’ve got to give [Northampton] credit - they’ve got good movement and good players, game-changers and game-winners.

“Some of their play wasn’t difficult to play against but we made it look difficult sometimes. We didn’t do the basics of staying with your runner, keeping play in front of you, and that cost us.

“The positives are that other results went for us, and there is no need to dismantle too many things – we go again on Tuesday.”

Curle, who recalled fit-again Danny Grainger and David Atkinson on Monday, could have Charlie Wyke and Tom Miller back tomorrow.