Paul Simpson's reaction to Carlisle United's "ruthless" 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers

The Blues’ 3-0 win was their best victory in the league since December 2020 – and extended their unbeaten run to nine games.

That is their best sequence for six years – and was earned with a clinical and confident showing at Brunton Park as they moved up to sixth in League Two.

Manager Simpson said the way they overwhelmed Doncaster in the second half was particularly impressive, adding it was their most complete performance yet in front of 5,600 fans.

“The players at half-time were saying, ‘Let’s not settle for 1-0, let’s make sure we stay front foot’,” he said.

“That is how we’ve gone about our games. When you sometimes come up against sides who are having problems, if you sit off you allow them to become a good team.

READ MORE: Big match verdict on Carlisle's win over Doncaster

“We had to change it a little bit in the first half after 20-odd minutes to try and stop [Doncaster] having a foothold in the game. I thought it worked with Gibbo [Jordan Gibson] getting close to [Adam] Clayton. I was really pleased with that little adjustment and credit for the players to be able to adapt.

“I think what you have to do, when you get your nose in front, is go for the jugular and that’s what we did – we kept going, didn’t let up, kept going.”

Callum Guy’s excellent opener – his second for the club – was followed by Jack Stretton’s first two goals for the Blues.

Doncaster, who saw Ben Close denied by an impressive Tomas Holy save before the Blues scored, had little else to offer as their fans chanted against manager Gary McSheffrey.

Guy’s goal sent United on their way to back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

“It’s probably something that we haven’t done enough this season when we’ve been on top,” he said of the midfielder’s strike.

“We haven’t always gone on and got the goal, so it was pleasing that we did.

“It came from some good play, because we’ve talked about working forward in support of each other so many times. Owen Moxon took up a really good position to help Ryan [Edmondson], and he rolled it back for Owen to play the ball onwards to Callum.

“It was such a clinical finish because he put it right in the corner. It was similar to what we said about Mox at Hartlepool – it’s placed so well and it gave us something to go into half time with.”

Simpson helps United promote 'Global Handwashing Day' (photo: Barbara Abbott) (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Simpson was delighted that the hard-working Derby loanee Stretton opened his account to increase United’s margin.

“He’s had some opportunities so far, but it’s the same old thing – the first goal’s the big one – once you get that you suddenly get a bit of a lease of life and move on from it,” the manager said.

“I’m really pleased for him – that’s reward for the way he worked at Grimsby, the way he went about it, and he’s done it since.

“In the first half I thought he looked a bit leggy, but I told him he needed to keep staying positive, keep working and running, try and get a bit closer to Edmo, and he’s got his rewards.

“As a striker he will be absolutely delighted with that.”

Simpson also reserved praise for keeper Holy’s crucial first-half save.

“If you go 1-0 down against a team who have good individual players, they can suddenly get a bit of belief,” he said. “We couldn’t afford to let that happen.

“I will say, that’s what he’s between the sticks for, to save it, so he’s done his job, and long may that continue.

“In the second half, I can remember one cross he’s taken, maybe two, but again that’s credit to the players: Jack Armer, Jack Ellis stopping crosses coming in. Hunts [Paul Huntington], Jon Mellish, Corey [Whelan] defending and stopping people like George Miller from having any influence on the game at all. And we’ve earned a clean sheet out of it.”

Teenage defender Ellis impressed on his recall in place of the injured Fin Back – and Simpson said his side have responded well to regular change due to injuries.

READ MORE: Carlisle United 3-0 Doncaster Rovers - as it happened

“It tells me that they’re doing things properly when it comes to the work on the grass. It tells me the way they’re working for each other,” he added.

“I’ll be honest, as a group of staff we’re on at them all the time and we’ve had conversations this week about them not taking shortcuts and making sure they do things properly.

“They want to try and achieve something here and it’s one of those things in football that you’re only going to achieve it if you actually work hard.

“I know there was a really famous golfer [Gary Player] years and years ago who said that the harder you work it’s amazing how lucky you get.

“We got those little bits of luck because of the way we went about it, but we have to keep doing it.

“I just hope they do because I hope they realise how close we are to being able to go and push on. I think the supporters are seeing it – the numbers we got on a horrible day shows that.

“We’ve got to make sure we keep doing it.”