Paul Simpson's verdict on Carlisle United's draw at Workington Reds

The Blues were unable to break down Mark Fell’s Northern Premier League hosts in Saturday’s friendly.

Manager Simpson said he would not be getting “screwed up” about Carlisle’s failure to score against their non-league opponents.

But he did accept that United’s work in the final third was not up to scratch in their third game of pre-season.

“I’m disappointed on the technical side of it, but pleased with the physical workout, which is what pre-season's all about,” Simpson told the News & Star.

“This week's been quite a physical week for them. We've gone from the volume of work that we've had in the previous weeks to more intensity stuff this week, so I would imagine there's a little bit of fatigue in the legs there, without making excuses.

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“We're trying to overload them, we're trying to get them to be in a state of fatigue so that they then got to really focus on the technical side of it, and I think [on Saturday] that was the big thing that let us down.

Sam Hetherington had some of Carlisle's best efforts at Borough Park (Image: Ben Holmes)

“We didn't move the ball quick enough, and when we got in the final third, we didn't produce the quality that we wanted.”

United had a Luke Armstrong effort cleared off the line in the second half while Sam Hetherington came close.

But Workington could also have won it when Steven Rigg missed a great chance late on.

“We got into the final third on quite a number of occasions, but we didn't produce the right sort of balls too many times,” said Simpson.

“We got blocked or went behind players. The big thing we're talking about this season is getting some quality in the final third.

• READ MORE: Match report from Workington Reds 0-0 Carlisle United

“It's about getting bodies into the box and working goalkeepers, and really we haven't done it.

“There's been a couple of little skirmishes where the ball's trickled past the post, Sam Lavelle's had a chance in the first half with a header, Sam Hetherington's had the volley, but we've got to be testing the goalkeeper more now.

“In all fairness, over the three weeks of training so far we've probably only had two, maybe three crossing and finishing sessions.

“It's been more about team shape and about little patterns of play to build to get there, and as we go through pre-season, we'll start doing more and more work on the finishing and getting bodies running into the box.”

Simpson wants to add more creative attacking options to his squad before the start of the League Two season.

He added: “We’re getting through the first two-thirds of the pitch okay, and I do think that in people like Archie Davies, Cameron Harper and Taylor Charters, we've got players who can create, who can find a pass.

Carlisle couldn't find a way past Workington (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I think Ethan Robson can find a pass. I think we've got strikers who can score goals, but the quality's got to be better in there. It's as simple as that.

“So, we have a few spaces that are available to build the squad again, and we'll keep looking to do that.”

Simpson, meanwhile, praised a disciplined Workington side for the way they competed with the Blues.

“I thought they looked a more athletic side than they have been in the past,” he said.

“I thought they passed the ball well. They dropped off and made it difficult, and when we're going to come up against teams who drop into that sort of mid-to-low block, we've got to be patient to break it down.

“I think we've all seen in the Euros that even top players, like the England players, struggled to break down the low block, and this game was no different.

“But there's lots of time to go, still loads of building to do, loads of improvements to make, lots more fitness to get into the legs, and hopefully over the next three weeks before the season starts, we'll get that.”