Stats that show how Paul Simpson has turned Carlisle United around

It’s fair to say the improvement has been dramatic - and the facts and figures from the Blues manager’s reign certainly reflect that.

Here, we take a look at the key numbers from the first 12 months of Simmo’s second spell at Brunton Park.

GAMES

Simpson has overseen 53 games in all competitions – 47 in the league, and six in cups.

In the league, he has guided Carlisle to 23 victories, 11 draws and 13 defeats.

The cups have seen one victory, one draw and four defeats.

WIN PERCENTAGE

In the league, the numbers are seriously impressive, considering the starting point of February 2022’s relegation battle.

Simpson boasts a win percentage of 48.9 from his first year back at the helm.

So far, that’s better even than his impressive first spell in charge from 2003-6, which saw two promotions and a win percentage from his games in permanent charge of 46.4 per cent.

His current win percentage is also better than almost every Carlisle manager from recent times.

Only John Sheridan, with a 50 per cent win percentage from his 26 league games, can claim a higher figure.

Others returned a lower percentage than Simmo – Keith Millen (23.5 per cent), Chris Beech (33.3 per cent), Steven Pressley (31.4 per cent), Keith Curle (37.1 per cent), Graham Kavanagh (19 per cent), Greg Abbott (32 per cent), John Ward (44.4 per cent) and Neil McDonald (40.4 per cent).

GOALS

Considering Simpson inherited a side who were on their way to a record-equalling low point in United’s history, the change in this department has been considerable too.

Carlisle ended 2021/22 with 39 league goals – the joint worst over a season the Blues had ever produced.

Some 16 of those came in Simpson’s first 15 games at the end of that campaign. That shows he made immediate improvement, considering Carlisle were averaging only 0.74 goals a game until that point.

This season, things have gone up dramatically. They have 49 from their first 32 league games – still the joint highest total in the division – at an average of 1.53 goals per game in 2022/23.

In terms of goals conceded, United shipped 17 under Simpson in 15 games last season, and 32 from 32 this.

Again, that reflects both immediate and long-term improvement.

Before Simpson’s arrival last February, Carlisle had conceded 45 from 31 league games, at an average of 1.45 per game.

Simpson had fans smiling again in no time...

Under the Cumbrian, the average was 1.13 last season and a round 1 this campaign.

Their current defensive record in 2022/23 is the eighth best in the League Two table. Last season they ended with the seventh worst.

POINTS

A record of 80 points overall from his 47 league games at the helm is another stat which highlights the remarkable turnaround.

It comes in at 1.7 points per game which, over a 46-game campaign, would yield a total of 78.2 – play-off territory without doubt.

Another notable number was highlighted by the Brunton Bugle’s Lee Rooney over the weekend. The Colchester victory took Carlisle onto 55 points.

That saw them surpass last season’s overall total of 53...in 14 fewer games.

SIGNINGS

Simpson has made seven permanent signings, and eight loan signings in his reign so far.

Given the stage of last season when he came in, these have all been made since last summer.

The permanent arrivals are Tomas Holy, Owen Moxon, Ryan Edmondson, Paul Huntington, Michael Kelly, Jayden Harris and Joe Garner.

On the loan front, Simpson has signed Fin Back, Ben Barclay, Sonny Hilton, Jack Stretton, Duncan Idehen, John-Kymani Gordon, Jack Robinson and Alfie McCalmont.

APPEARANCES

From Simpson’s 53 games in all competitions, a number of players have been the manager’s go-to figures.

Leading the way is Jordan Gibson, who has played in all but one of the manager’s matches in all competitions since last February.

Jordan Gibson has featured in all but one of Simpson's games since the manager's return (Image: Ben Holmes)

Gibson has featured in 52 games, and 46 in the league, during Simmo’s second United era.

Next is Jon Mellish, with 50 outings in all competitions and 44 in the league under Simpson.

Kristian Dennis has also been heavily relied upon – 47 in all competitions, 45 in the league.

Jack Armer, Morgan Feeney and Callum Guy are also past the 40 mark in terms of outings under the Cumbrian manager.

HOME AND AWAY

Simpson has certainly re-established Brunton Park as a stronghold since returning to Carlisle.

In the league under Simmo, the Blues have won 14, drawn five and lost five on home soil.

This season's home win total of nine has already gone past last season's overall tally of eight.

On their travels, things have certainly improved too. Over the last 12 months, United on the road have won nine, drawn six and lost eight.

In 2022/23, they’ve already matched their away-win tally of six from the previous two seasons, and beaten 2019/20’s (admittedly Covid-truncated) total of five.

GOALS

Inevitably, given his output this season, Kristian Dennis leads the way when it comes to United’s leading scorers in Simmo 2.0.

The experienced marksman has 20 goals from his time under the manager – two last season, and 18 so far this.

Kristian Dennis is United's top scorer of Simmo's second spell (Image: Ben Holmes)

Two more this term will make him United’s first 20-goal a season man since Simpson’s previous spell, when Karl Hawley hit 26 in 2005/6.

Omari Patrick is next highest scorer in Simpson’s current reign, with nine.

DEBUTS

Simpson has given 17 players their first Carlisle appearance – 18 if you include a fourth debut for Joe Garner.

The 17 who’ve pulled on the blue shirt for the first time since Simpson’s arrival last February are: Jack Ellis, Fin Back, Ben Barclay, Nic Bollado, Ryan Carr, Ryan Edmondson, JK Gordon, Jayden Harris, Sonny Hilton, Tomas Holy, Paul Huntington, Duncan Idehen, Michael Kelly, Alfie McCalmont, Owen Moxon, Jack Robinson and Jack Stretton.

BIGGEST WIN

You won’t mind being reminded of this one: the 5-1 home win over Barrow, on January 31, 2023, is Carlisle’s biggest win of Simpson’s second spell so far.

BIGGEST DEFEAT

That came just two weeks later, and is a night we’d rather forget: the 4-0 home defeat to Mansfield Town on February 14, 2023.

CLEAN SHEETS

In the league, Simpson’s United have kept 17 from his 47 games back at the helm.

That includes an excellent tally of 13 so far this season.

That figure has already equalled their number for last season, and is only two short of 2020/21’s overall effort of 15.

For comparison, meanwhile – and the standard to aspire to over the run-in – Simpson’s League Two champions of 2005/6 had 20 league shut-outs from their 46 games.

BEST WINNING RUN (LEAGUE)

United have put together four wins on the spin twice since Simpson returned to the club.

Remarkably, they did so in his very first four games, against Leyton Orient, Rochdale, Oldham Athletic and Northampton Town.

This season, they reeled off consecutive wins against Newport County, Hartlepool United, Rochdale and Barrow.

WORST LOSING RUN (LEAGUE)

It is to Simpson and United’s credit that they have yet to suffer a real losing streak since he came back to the club.

Two games is their longest run of defeats, and it’s happened twice since last February.

Back-to-back defeats came against Exeter City and Walsall last season, and against Leyton Orient and Stockport County this campaign.

BEST UNBEATEN RUN (LEAGUE)

This season set an impressive standard in this respect, since United went on a nine-game run without defeat from late summer to autumn.

This started with the 1-0 win over Gillingham on August 27 and continued to the 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on October 15.

That spell saw five wins and four draws.

LONGEST WINLESS RUN (LEAGUE)

Again, things have never been too bad in this respect, and United’s longest sequence without a league win under Simpson amounted to four games during last season’s survival battle.

That came against Rochdale, Tranmere Rovers, Exeter City and Walsall.

Considering United had gone nine and eight games without victory in separate 2021/22 spells prior to Simmo’s arrival, it once more highlights how quickly the manager improved things.

OLDEST PLAYER

Paul Huntington (35)

YOUNGEST PLAYER

Nic Bollado (17)

BIGGEST HOME CROWD

9,351 versus Barrow

SMALLEST HOME CROWD

1,089 versus Fleetwood Town in the Papa John’s Trophy

AVERAGE HOME CROWD (LEAGUE)

5,803 (from seven games last season and 17 this)

CLUBS SAVED

One

Not bad for a year's work...