Carlisle United’s winning run came to an end with Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Harrogate Town – but what did we learn from the game? Let’s take a closer look.
1 BOTTOM HALF RARITY
It just had to be Harrogate, who for some reason have never managed to lose to Carlisle in seven meetings – and the Yorkshire club contributed to another unusual stat on Saturday.
They were the first team from the bottom half of the table to defeat Carlisle at Brunton Park for nearly two years.
I know – all the woes of last season, yet somehow the Blues only lost to sides from 12th and upwards on home soil.
Likewise this campaign. Before Saturday, the last time they had been beaten by opponents from the lower 50 per cent of League Two was on March 23, 2021, when Leyton Orient won 1-0 (and moved into the top half in the process).
Harrogate joined Stockport County, meanwhile, in the very short list of sides from the bottom half to have beaten Carlisle at all this season.
(It’s two from the top half next, in AFC Wimbledon and Mansfield Town…though the Dons might also be in the bottom half by then, depending on Tuesday's results in the division)
2 BY THE LEFT…AND LEFT AGAIN
The stats from Saturday’s game shows how heavily Carlisle focused their attacking efforts down the left side.
Far from the first time, they looked to use Jack Armer as an outlet, with Jon Mellish offering increased support as he pushed up from defence.
A positional report on the match from WhoScored.com shows that United did 51 per cent of their attacking down the left, compared with 28 per cent on the right and 21 per cent down the middle.
The Blues did not have the balance of an attack-minded wing-back on the right, as they have for much of the season, not that Ben Barclay did much wrong on the defensive side of things.
Perhaps, though, this game showed certain limits to Carlisle’s attacking variety on a day when they needed to find something from somewhere, anywhere, to break down a well-organised and resistant opponent.
3 ERROR COUNT
Carlisle made one that mattered on Saturday, and it cost them at least a point.
There is little need to rake over the details of Paul Huntington’s own-goal, or to pillory a man who has been such a strong performer otherwise this season.
Harrogate’s winner simply underlined the risks attached to the kind of moment which you do not often associate with the Blues’ most experienced defender.
Huntington seldom takes risks at the back, is often happier to find touch when other players might try something with a higher chance of error.
And it will not be lost on the Cumbrian that on a couple of occasions when he has looked for home, instead of absolute safety-first, the Blues have been punished.
READ MORE: Fans gallery from Carlisle United v Harrogate Town
In December, an attempted backpass by Huntington was underhit and Northampton swooped to score their winner.
Then came Saturday’s mishap. Opponents will no doubt watch such moments and weigh up the merits of pressing the Blues’ central kingpin when facing his own goal, as the Cobblers and Sulphurites did.
Yet the Harrogate moment, in many ways, can still go down as a freak happening. It need not plague Huntington or the Blues, who should be wise enough to learn any obvious lessons.
4 NOT SO QUICK ON THE DRAW
Carlisle’s inability to break down a solid Harrogate defence meant they failed to score for only the fifth time in 29 league games.
The Blues had 19 shots, had eight on target, forced ten corners, yet came up short against Simon Weaver’s side.
It was, all in all, a rare off-day for a side who remain League Two’s highest scorers by some margin.
Carlisle’s tally of 48 is six better than their closest rivals (Northampton Town).
That ought to give the Blues comfort as regards their weaponry as they now turn their attentions to the trip to AFC Wimbledon.
Their expected goals (xG) of 2.15, compared with Harrogate’s 0.72, in the game also suggested their creative levels were not too far away, even if the end product was.
One thing their blank in front of goal meant was that it’s now two months since Carlisle drew a game.
Their last draw came against Sutton United in early December, ten games ago.
Carlisle were draw specialists in the early part of the season. Their aversion to them since then has been a strength recently, but not on Saturday.
5 BOUNCEBACKABILITY
The omens are, generally, positive when it comes to United’s resilience in the face of defeat under Paul Simpson.
Before Saturday, they had lost five league games and on four such occasions they followed those defeats with either a draw or a win in the next outing.
Only once this season have they suffered back-to-back defeats, against Leyton Orient and Stockport County.
And only once did they do so last season under Simmo, too (against Exeter City and Walsall).
United’s manager has called for calm heads in the wake of the Harrogate loss, and this principle has served the Blues well so far when they’ve had a setback.
There is no reason to think they will have things all their own way at Wimbledon. Johnnie Jackson’s side are unbeaten in four home games, and have certainly improved since the September day when, newly-relegated, they came up short in a 2-1 defeat at Brunton Park.
Carlisle, though, can set off for south London knowing they have an away record that is the envy of many in their division.
They are the highest away scorers in League Two, though Wimbledon’s home defensive record is the joint third best in the table.
At this early stage, the smart money is on a close one – yet a contest United can still approach with optimism.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here