What did we learn from Carlisle United's defeat to Wycombe Wanderers?

1. DRYING UP AGAIN

While Carlisle’s mishaps at the back cost them at Wycombe, it would not do to ignore their shortcomings at the other end again.

The Blues, despite an improved second half with ten men, were not consistently dangerous enough against Matt Bloomfield’s side.

It was a second consecutive game without scoring and a fifth of ten League One games so far when they have failed to register.

Sean Maguire battles Luke Leahy (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Only three sides have got fewer goals than United’s tally of seven so far – Burton Albion with six, Fleetwood Town with five, and Cheltenham Town, who are somehow still to score a single goal in League One after ten games.

Carlisle’s issues in attack are nothing like as grievous as the Robins’, thank goodness. But United were still not efficient in enemy territory at Adams Park.

Of their 12 shots, only one was on target and, for the near-miss aspects of certain attempts, such as Fin Back’s in the first half and Sam Lavelle in the second, Wycombe’s six on target from 19 efforts accurately reflects their more loaded threat.

2. CHAIRBOYS’ VARIETY

Put simply, Wycombe offered a versatile attacking line at Adams Park which Carlisle must have envied.

It only served to show the height of the bar in League One when the Blues come up against middle to high-grade teams from the third tier.

Wycombe are comfortably in that category these days and, in Sam Vokes, Garath McCleary and Brandon Hanlan, they gave United more problems than they fully knew how to deal with.

Wycombe's Brandon Hanlan was just one of various attacking threats Carlisle struggled to contain (Image: Barbara Abbott)

If it was not the experienced No9 Vokes dropping off the front line to win headers or link play deftly, it was the ageless McCleary (36) twisting and tormenting defenders in the channels.

Hanlan, the younger of the trio at a mere 26, was a busy worker off the shoulders and buzzing around Paul Simpson’s back line.

Carlisle are not without good traits in attack – Sean Maguire’s intelligence was again on show, and Luke Plange almost sneaked an opening goal before being sacrificed after the red card – but they are not currently capable of putting enough of them on the pitch to cause lasting damage.

It’s another reason to regret the injury to Joshua Kayode, whose height and strength may have given the Blues the kind of platform the seasoned Vokes gave Wycombe.

A better way has to be found – and we’ll know it’s there when opponents are faced with the kind of confusion and discomfort United encountered in Buckinghamshire.

3. KEEPER CALL CLEAR

Paul Simpson had every right to drop Tomas Holy if he felt the keeper was not performing as securely as needed.

The case for his recall, though, is unarguable and, even had Jokull Andresson avoided dismissal for Saturday’s 29th-minute incident, would have been strong.

The totting-up of moments when Andersson has been involved in either avoidable or unfortunate moments leads to the conclusion that Holy, whatever his flaws, must be seen as the safer bet right now.

Tomas Holy now deserves a fresh run in goal (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Simpson exonerated Andresson on his debut at Port Vale, when his miscontrol led to a penalty being conceded, but in truth there was still some responsibility on the keeper there.

An offside flag reprieved the Iceland international from a mistake at Stevenage (during an otherwise good display), there was a penalty conceded against Derby County, and then Saturday’s slow-motion shocker when he failed to spot Sam Vokes sneaking up behind him.

Andresson appears a good and bold character whose arrival into the team was refreshing in some respects.

No player, though, is immune to the chop if bad things are happening too regularly. Holy may not be perfect (how many players at this level are?) but his stability over the piece at United means he warrants his chance again.

4. BACK IN THE OLD ROUTINE

Paul Simpson was keen to praise Fin Back after Saturday’s game and it’s undeniable that he was one of United’s plus points from an otherwise sour day.

The Nottingham Forest loanee had not particularly hit last season’s loftiest heights before Saturday but his performance levels have been growing – and at Adams Park he was the Blues’ best player.

Back went forward without fear and was the width of a post from his first goal in first-team football.

Fin Back, far left, was United's best player at Adams Park (Image: Barbara Abbott)

He showed a well-oiled engine in getting up and down the pitch, while his defending was sharp and on point against Bloomfield’s side.

He won more aerial challenges than any other Carlisle player, registered more shots than anyone else in the fruit salad kit, was often there to intercept, block and lead the Blues out of danger, and there appeared a pleasing bite about his game in general too.

A run of games was always going to be needed for the 21-year-old to get up to speed, given last season's injuries. Saturday’s efforts were bright, and certainly something to build on.

5. SUPPORT HITS RIGHT NOTE

United’s 405 followers had plenty of reasons to grumble on Saturday but once more the Blue Army offered Simpson’s side admirable support.

There were particular demonstrations of fan power, too, in how the travelling faithful, for instance, welcomed Tomas Holy back onto the pitch in the first half.

Holy’s popularity endures as last season’s ever-present No1 and Wembley shoot-out hero, and it must have felt reassuring for the Czech to jog back into that sort of embrace following Jokull Andresson’s red card.

United's fans were on form again at Wycombe (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Before the game, United’s followers had also embraced the Piataks, with four members of the would-be new ownership family spending time with the London Branch before the game.

They, and Jenna in particular, seemed to enjoy the ‘USA, USA’ chant that went up during the game as they sat among the supporters.

There is no denying the continued enthusiasm from the fanbase to see the takeover deal happen.

Meanwhile, a familiar figure from the recent past was also acknowledged by the Blues supporters who, in their moment of full-time disappointment, still found it in themselves to chant, ‘Keogh, Keogh’ to Wycombe’s veteran defender.

The former Brunton Park favourite clearly appreciated that last, lingering touch of class from United’s loyal travellers.