Rochdale 2-1 Carlisle United: Injury-hit Blues beaten

Sub Dan Butterworth’s goal was only a consolation for Paul Simpson’s side who were outplayed by Jim McNulty’s hosts in their latest pre-season friendly.

Kairo Mitchell and Aaron Henry had earlier put Dale in control and it was a justified reward for their superior passing football.

Carlisle lacked pace and invention in their attacking throughout and it was an underwhelming display two weeks before the big League Two kick-off – compounded by injuries to Ethan Robson, Aaron Hayden and Terell Thomas.

Mitchell converted a Harvey Gilmour cross three minutes before the break for the hosts, and then a Henry free-kick doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, as Carlisle struggled to create anything themselves.

Butterworth drove a low shot in off the post in the 72nd minute but that was a rare bright attacking moment for the Cumbrians.

By then they had lost Robson on the half-hour and Hayden also went off hurt on the hour mark, while a late knock for fellow defender Thomas saw the Cumbrians end the game with ten men.

Carlisle arrived at the Crown Oil Arena with Cameron Harper back from injury, Jon Mellish also in the XI after a family matter kept him out of the St Mirren game, while Georgie Kelly got his first start of pre-season.

That was the headline news in the team named by Simpson, Charlie Wyke captaining the side for the second time this summer and things got under way in front of 230 travelling fans in the Willbutts Lane Stand, Rochdale quick to get into their patient passing game drilled by boss McNulty.

A couple of early forays by the home side tested Carlisle, and a loose ball following Hayden’s pass to Harrison Neal broke to Mitchell, who turned and shot low, Harry Lewis down to save.

United tried to press Rochdale with unconvincing results, Robson shooting high into the stand when a free-kick broke his way, and later the hosts gifting the ball to Carlisle as Neal narrowly failed to loft it beyond stranded keeper Luke McNicholas, the shot sailing wide.

Otherwise, it was the home side’s more progressive football which set up the game’s opportunities. One came when Hayden missed the ball and Devante Rodney cut in from the left, but his shot rebounded off the near post.

Terell Thomas, left, was among three Blues players to go off injured (Image: Richard Parkes)

Further attacks saw Carlisle grateful for Thomas’ alertness in the middle of the back three whilst Hayden, to his right, was given some discomfort. Tarryn Allarakhia saw a shot blocked and United’s attempts to get into dangerous positions of their own were rather one-paced and lacking any real invention, the offside flag also denying Josh Vela and Kelly.

Robson then went down on the half-hour and could not continue, Dylan McGeouch taking his place, the former going off in clear discomfort with his hamstring in the latest injury concern in this pre-season.

Vela was then in the book for a late slide on the impressive Harvey Gilmour and United’s frustration did not abate with the scraps they found in the home half, Hayden shooting over from 20 yards with a first-time effort.

Otherwise Simpson’s side carried very little threat when not managing to force an error with their press, nobody showing any dynamism in the last third or an ability to serve strikers Kelly and Wyke.

And then they conceded, Rochdale cutting a hole down the left and Gilmour squaring for Mitchell to finish close in. It ensured a half-time reward for the better side, who had finally found some ruthlessness in the box after their superior football between the areas.

For Carlisle, an injection of flair and quality was sorely needed. Yet it did not come. Luke Armstrong replaced Kelly at half-time and Rochdale, four minutes later, added their second goal: a perfectly-aimed free-kick from Henry which left Lewis clawing at fresh air.

By now the sun had replaced the early afternoon rain at Spotland but Carlisle’s performance remained dull. Mitchell failed with an attempt to lob Lewis, and then Connor McBride was denied a penalty shout after a McGeouch challenge, after Rochdale had again shown Carlisle the way in terms of passing and fluent movement.

United’s remained leaden. Mitchell had another shot blocked and a couple of crosses from right and left was the sum total of Carlisle’s invention up to the hour mark.

The second injury blow then came, Hayden going down in discomfort after a collision left him with an eye cut, the defender replaced among three changes by Simpson, a further three coming later, as Rochdale remained on the attack, their sub Ryan East the latest to have a shot blocked after some bright work by McBride.

Carlisle finally found some purpose 18 minutes from time, Neal pressing well and shifting it left to Butterworth, the sub running at Rochdale’s defence before drilling low and in off the left-hand post.

It was a well-worked and taken goal yet it proved an isolated moment. More subs followed for both, with one of Carlisle’s, keeper Gabe Breeze, called into action to deny one of Rochdale’s, a trialist, from a shot from the right.

At the other end, another Blues sub Jack Ellis almost sneaked a penalty out of Ethan Ebanks-Landell when attempting to steal the ball – ref Ben Whyatt reckoned otherwise – while Thomas could not continue after going down in the last minute.

Carlisle had used up all their outfield subs and it was a bruising finish to a pre-season showing that certainly offered more questions than answers.

Rochdale: McNicholas, Gordon (Henderson 85), Beckwith (Edwards 90), Ebanks-Landell, Henry (East 61), Allarakhia (Trialist 73), Gilmour (Trialist 90), Adebayo-Rowling (Trialist 73), McBride (F Armstrong 73), Rodney (Alfa 61), Mitchell (Ferguson 85). Not used: B Kelly, Burgess.

Goals: Mitchell 42, Henry 49.

United: Lewis (Breeze 67), Thomas, Hayden (Barclay 62), Mellish, Davies (Ellis 61), Harper (Charters 61), Neal (Lavelle 73), Vela (O’Donoghue 67), Robson (McGeouch 30), G Kelly (L Armstrong 46), Wyke (Butterworth 67). Not used: Smith.

Goals: Butterworth 72.

Booked: Vela.

Ref: Ben Wyatt.

Crowd: 975 (230 United fans).