Port Vale 1-0 Carlisle United: Penalty costs winless Blues

The loan signing, who came into the side in place of Tomas Holy, brought down Ethan Chislett after failing to control a Jon Mellish throw across the box which Paul Simpson later blasted as "unprofessional".

James Wilson converted the 50th-minute spot-kick for Port Vale - and that was enough to send Simpson's side to a third defeat in five league games.

It meant Carlisle's wait for a win went on and left them on just two goals from their first five third-tier outings.

United appeared to be well in the game in the first half and came close through Callum Guy and Owen Moxon.

But they struggled for serious chances after going behind, even with new signing Terry Ablade introduced as a second-half substitute.

They are now fourth bottom in the fledgling table with two points to their name so far.

Andy Crosby's Vale had two goals disallowed for offside and, while they never dominated the Cumbrians, seldom saw their lead under serious threat the longer things went on.

The setback, in front of 705 travelling fans in a 6,997 crowd, came after United manager Simpson opted to end Holy's 53-game run of league starts by dropping the Czech in favour of handing loanee Andresson his first start.

Callum Guy goes close in the first half (Image: Richard Parkes)

That big call was accompanied by recalls in midfield and attack for Alfie McCalmont and Luke Plange, who replaced Jordan Gibson and Ryan Edmondson respectively.

New signing Ablade was named among the subs, with Joe Garner out of the squad, while hosts Vale brought Lewis Cass, Mitch Clark, Gavin Massey and James Plant into their XI, Spurs loan signing Alfie Devine among their subs.

The hosts made a rapid start and carved through United a number of times in the opening stages, often through Clark's runs down the right.

Plant hit the side-netting from the other side before Chislett had penalty appeals dismissed as he went down under a Paul Huntington challenge.

Another Clark run caused problems before Wilson shot over from a good position following a corner.

United, though, grew into things midway through the half as Owen Moxon shot just wide and then Sean Maguire went close after midfielder Moxon won a 50-50.

After Gavin Massey almost forced his way through at the other end, Carlisle came close again when a Moxon free-kick was headed over by Plange.

The home side lost their way for a period as United's attacking grew more persistent, the Cumbrians forcing a series of corners, one of which found its way to Guy, whose goalbound shot from outside the box was superbly tipped over the bar by home keeper Connor Ripley.

More Blues set-pieces examined the home defence and continued pressure resulted in a Moxon scissor-kick going side.

Vale thought they had broken the deadlock on 40 minutes but Chislett was offside as he followed in to score after Andresson had parried a Wilson shot.

And Chislett had further ambitious penalty shouts turned down at the end of the half when his shot struck Guy.

Owen Moxon tries an acrobatic attempt (Image: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle, in general, could be encouraged by their efforts - but their good work was spoiled early in the second half when they carelessly conceded.

Mellish's throw from the left went towards Andresson but he was unable to control it and, as Chislett pounced, the keeper upended the Vale midfielder.

Ref Tom Reeves pointed to the spot and Wilson slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner as Iceland international Andresson went the wrong way.

United were then put under further pressure as Alex Iacovitti volleyed over after skilfully controlling a cross, and Clark had an effort blocked by Mellish.

Moxon almost responded with a 25-yard equaliser for Carlisle but Ripley was equal to his piledriver on the hour mark.

Maguire glanced an Armer cross wide as the Blues looked for a way back, Vale sub Garrity then forcing a good save from Andresson at the near post.

Terry Ablade stretches for a cross (Image: Richard Parkes)

Simpson then introduced new boy Ablade as part of a triple change with 20 minutes to go, Gibson and Edmondson also coming on in a new three-man attack.

Carlisle remained short of chances, though a Gibson cross almost set up Armer, only for the wing-back to slice wide as he arrived at the back post.

United then introduced Dan Butterworth and Taylor Charters, the latter turning into trouble in the 88th minute as home sub Josh Thomas went through, Andresson off his line to deny him.

More than six added minutes proved fruitless as Carlisle's early struggles in League One continued.

Port Vale: Ripley, Cass, Smith, Iacovitti, Arblaster (Lowe 84), Ojo, Chislett (Garrity 61), Clark, Plant (Sang 84) Massey (Devine 76), Wilson (Thomas 76). Not used: Leutwiler, Shorrock.

Goal: Wilson 50pen.

United: Andresson, Lavelle, Huntington, Mellish (Charters 83), Back, Armer, Guy (Butterworth 83), Moxon, McCalmont (Edmondson 69), Maguire (Ablade 69), Plange (Gibson 69). Not used: Holy, Barclay.

Ref: Tom Reeves.

Crowd: 6,997 (705 United fans).