Carlisle United fought back for a 1-1 draw at Newport County – but what did we learn from the game? Let’s take a closer look.
1 WHELAN AT THE READY
Every squad needs its reliable customers who are ready to step up at a moment’s notice, even if they aren’t in the team every week.
This need is brought to the surface at the moment by Carlisle United’s seemingly unending injury problems.
There is plenty to be grateful for, then, in the case of Corey Whelan.
He came into the XI just minutes before the game, as a result of Morgan Feeney’s hamstring discomfort in the warm-up.
He went on to defend solidly, and then popped up with his first Blues goal on his 50th appearance.
Whelan was United’s star man according to WhoScored.com statistics: solid in his interceptions and clearances, and also boasting the best passing accuracy of any of Carlisle’s defenders at Rodney Parade.
No player sets out wishing to be an able deputy, but there are reasons Paul Simpson regularly praises a consistent pro like Whelan - and why the ex-Liverpool man deserved his success on Saturday.
2 SIMMO’S FRUSTRATION
United’s manager was not very complimentary about his team’s performance in his post-match interviews.
Simpson diagnosed a lack of “energy” in the first half, and a need to be better overall.
It was hard to disagree with that, and further frustration arises from the fact Carlisle, even when below their best, do appear on the very brink of better things.
They had the better of possession at Newport, more attempts on goal, fashioned more from open play and forced all the game’s corners (six to nil).
This says there is a basis of good performance in Carlisle, even if they are finding it hard to knit everything together consistently.
In the first half in particular, they got into some excellent positions, lacking ruthlessness around the box.
More sharpness there – and this is far from the first time we’ve said this – and the exasperation Simpson felt might have been significantly diluted.
Carlisle may have been wanting in other areas, and needed second-half changes to reignite them, but perhaps do not need to deviate too much from the foundation of their game.
Picking up results when not at full tilt, and beset by so many injuries, is never a bad thing either.
3 STRETTON’S TOUGH BAPTISM
Paul Simpson has faith that Derby County loan striker Jack Stretton can be an effective No9 for the Blues.
Saturday was his first chance to show this from the start in a league game.
Stretton certainly left nothing in the tank, but it was largely an afternoon of frustrating toil for the 21-year-old.
He was up against Newport’s big defenders and got little change out of either those opponents or ref Keith Stroud.
Stretton got few opportunities to showcase his best attacking attributes and had no chances to speak of in his 90-minute outing.
Nor, all the time, did he get all the support in numbers that might have benefited him when Carlisle sent the ball up the pitch.
According to WhoScored, Stretton had by far the fewest touches of the ball of any of United’s starters.
He kept going, and Carlisle in general looked better when they switched to a three-man attack after the break.
But hopefully Stretton’s next outings will see him closer to goal and in a side that’s on the front foot more reliably.
4 HILTON’S BRIGHT SPARK
This was Sonny Hilton’s most notable United performance in the league to date and should do his case no harm as he strives for starts.
The Fulham loan man has been restricted to substitute outings in League Two so far.
This one came with a good chunk of the second half remaining, in a game United were chasing.
It called for serious impact and, while Jayden Harris added size and combat in the middle, Hilton certainly added fresh zip to things on the right.
A replacement for Jordan Gibson, who was skirting close to a second yellow card, Hilton looked hungry as he nudged, feinted and attacked down that side of the pitch.
Newport struggled to contain some of his runs and Hilton, with his low centre of gravity, gave the hosts’ bigger players some real issues as they tired.
He could even have snatched a very late winner. If Gibson is United’s main ball carrier – he certainly was in wide positions on Saturday – Hilton offered a glimpse at how he could make some eventual impact on the Blues too.
5 THE BALANCING ACT
You get so far along the road towards praise or criticism with United and soon come up with a reason to go back the other way.
They’ve conceded the first goal in five of their nine league games so far. Yet they’ve only lost one of those games.
They’ve only been beaten the once. Yet five draws represents a few lost opportunities.
Injuries continue to stack up. Yet Carlisle are continuing to pick up points, and on Saturday moved into the top half of League Two.
No, they’re not starting games at top tilt. Yet they’re finding ways to finish them well.
This was always going to be a work-in-progress season and being bang in the middle, after the first nine matches, is a platform.
It is apparent what Carlisle need to do better, and what needs to run better in their favour.
But there are still grounds for measured optimism, this far in.
6 ITCH TO BE SCRATCHED
The last time United won an away game, it was March 19 and Barrow were the victims.
Since then, they’ve gone ten trips in all competitions, nine in the league, since they picked up a victory on the road.
Carlisle finished last season with four defeats and a draw in their away outings. This season, in the league, they’ve drawn three and lost one.
The contrast with their home form is apparent both this season (W3 D2 L0) and in general under Simpson since February.
At Brunton Park, they’ve won eight, drawn two and lost two in the manager’s second Blues tenure.
Win your homes, draw your aways – it’s an old article of faith that serves teams well.
And it’s genuinely good to see the Blues steadily strengthening the ramparts at HQ. The best sides, though, know how to smash and grab on their travels too, and a (hopefully drier) Blundell Park on Tuesday night would be a very good place to start.
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