Paul Simpson hailed a “perfect” day as Carlisle United revitalised their promotion push in front of a big Brunton Park crowd.
Kristian Dennis’ double earned a 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in front of a 13,410 attendance.
It sent United up to third in League Two as they swept back to form after four games without a win or a goal.
Carlisle led from the third minute as they calmed recent nerves – and rewarded the biggest home league crowd since November 2007 for their huge response to the club’s #10for10 ticket offer.
Simpson said the result was all-important and added: “It was perfect – absolutely perfect.
“It was a perfect start, and getting the goal calmed everybody down. Then getting the second one just before half-time calms everybody down.
“I’d have loved to have got another one and finished the game completely, because you’re still a little bit nervy.
“But it was about result today. I asked the players to get back to winning ways, and it certainly went how I would have liked it to.”
Dennis, with his first-half brave, moved onto 20 goals for the season – the first Carlisle played to hit that mark since Karl Hawley in 2005/6.
The frontman, Simpson said, was “naffed off” with his recent spell out of the side but was back on clinical form against mid-table Tranmere.
“I know he was disappointed – he didn’t actually tell me that, he totally understood when I explained why I was leaving him out – but he wasn’t very happy about it,” the Blues boss said.
“I think he’s been kicking his heels and waiting for that chance. I made a decision to bring him back in and try and have a bit of consistency with strikers, and thankfully it’s paid off.”
Dennis poached both goals from close range but Simpson added: “They can’t be easy because not everybody does it. You have to have that knack of having an expectation where the ball’s going to land.
“It was great play from Omari [Patrick] for the first one and a real calmness to slide it for [Dennis] to tap it into the semi empty net.
“The second one, he’s just been Johnny-on-the spot again – a great cross from Owen Moxon, a great header from Jack Armer at the far post, and Denno’s there to smash it in.
“He’s on 20 now, that is fantastic and I know he wants to get more.”
Simpson felt the way Carlisle started the game was crucial to establishing their superiority.
“I sometimes think the opposition dictate how you can do it,” he said.
“Against Stevenage, they didn’t try and play out from the back, they went direct so we never got that opportunity to press, but today I always felt we could.
“We had a game plan that the players went out and did, and that was really good because the chances came from pressing them high and forcing them into mistakes.
“And when we did, we had a better calmness about us to find a better pass.
“We talk about normally if you have five or six passes you’ve got control of the game – today it was about the first two or three passes in, and then you take some control.
“That’s where the chances came from. That was really pleasing to see. We had that calmness which we’ve probably not had over the last run of games.”
United are now one point off second place on a day Northampton Town lost and Stevenage could only draw.
Simpson, meanwhile, said he was hugely encouraged by the big Brunton Park turnout by fans.
“Turning up for the game was like the good old days, when I used to come with my dad – he used to park up near the city general hospital and we used to walk down Greystone Road, get a quarter of blackcurrant and liquorice on the way down, ready to stand on the Warwick Road End…
“Seeing all the people out there was absolutely fantastic. When you see all four sides of the stadium full, it doesn’t half give you a lift. It makes you realise we’re doing things right.
“The big thing I said to the players is, ‘You’ve earned the right to have four sides of the stadium, to have whatever crowd comes in today. Now go and show you deserve it, go and perform and enjoy every minute of it and hope we get many more of them to come.’
Simpson also praised club staff for their work behind the #10for10 promotion.
“They do incredible stuff, they’re really trying things differently,” he said.
“It’s a brave decision to make tickets £10, because if it doesn’t come off, we’re not in a position to lose money, but the response has been magnificent.
“I can only thank all the businesses and the people who’ve come out, because I’ve been asking for it, so it’s only right we say well done and thank you to them.
“Let’s hope the East Stand offices can come up with other ideas for these last three home games, and see if we can keep this support going.”
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