Carlisle United boss on 'different side' to Tomas Holy

The big Czech returned to the team as a sub for red-carded Jokull Andresson in the 2-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

And Holy will now get the chance to stake his claim for a run in the side when he starts in place for the suspended Andresson against Peterborough United on Tuesday night.

Manager Simpson said Holy’s response to being left out for a six-game spell has been encouraging.

He has now called on last season’s ever-present No1 to seize his opportunity.

“He has to learn from his time out,” Simpson said.

“I explained to him why he wasn’t in the team when I left him out, but I had a conversation with him this week [to say] I think he’s done really well in training since he got left out.

“His levels of shot stopping [have been excellent]. I’m not so much talking about his work ethic, because that has always been absolutely top drawer – he’s a top professional.

“But I’ve been really pleased with what he’s shown me over the last few weeks – more talking, he’s been communicating with players in training, he’s been chatting with people which he wasn’t doing before.

Holy, after being on the bench for the last six league games, now gets a fresh chance (Image: Richard Parkes)

“I’ve seen a different side to Tomas over the last few weeks.

“He has to continue to show that. He has to come back into the team, he has to dominate his box as a 6ft-however-many-inch goalkeeper he is, he has to get his kicking right and he has to make saves.

“If he does that…that’s why I brought him to the club because I thought he could do that and I want him to continue to do that.”

Simpson castigated Andresson’s error on Saturday as “amateurish” as the Reading loan keeper failed to be aware of Sam Vokes sneaking up behind him to steal the ball when he rolled it in front of him.

The resulting challenge saw the Iceland international handle the ball outside the box as Vokes looked to score. A straight red card means he will serve a one-match ban, teenager Gabe Breeze likely to step up to the bench on Tuesday.

On Andresson’s post-match reaction, Simpson said: “He hasn’t said anything to me. He’s very quiet, obviously disappointed.

“[We] don’t need anybody to say anything, we all know what happened, it’s a mistake.

“I thought Tomas came on and did well. Tomas has been telling me he wants to get back in the team, Jokull’s given him an opportunity and it’s up to Tomas to hold onto it.”