Carlisle United boss: Win over Barrow AFC is a 'huge lift'

The 1-0 victory, which came thanks to Dan Adu-Adjei’s first-half goal, saw the Blues take the spoils in the Cumbrian derby.

It also proved a timely result for the Cumbrians after defeats in their first two games of the new campaign after relegation.

Manager Simpson said he hopes the outcome lifts some of the recent tension and helps the team to build.

“There's a bit of relief because if you go three games [without winning] everybody starts to get really nervous,” he told the News & Star.

“If we'd lost it wouldn't have been an absolute crisis – but I think winning this game just gives everybody a huge lift and it gives us something to take into next week.”

• Jon Colman's big match verdict on Carlisle United's win over Barrow

AFC Bournemouth loan striker Adu-Adjei got the all-important goal on 35 minutes after ambushing Barrow defender Theo Vassell.

The visitors had a 95th-minute Andy Dallas equaliser disallowed for offside as Carlisle claimed their first home win since New Year’s Day.

Simpson was pleased with the endeavour shown by his side even if the football was seldom flowing – and acknowledged that the result was the most important aspect.

“It was about finding a way, and we've talked about that many times, but we've found a way this time,” the manager said.

Dan Adu-Adjei was United's goal hero against Barrow (Image: Ben Holmes)

“Whatever anybody thinks about it, the level of performance, it's fair to say, wasn't as good as we've had in spells of the other two games.

“But when it comes to it, you still only get three points for it and that's the most important thing out of this game.”

Adu-Adjei’s first competitive goal for United capped a man-of-the-match showing from the 19-year-old.

“It was a great finish, really good work,” said Simpson.

“He's done that sort of thing in the other games as well, and you can see that there's a spark about him – and I think him and Charlie Wyke link up really well.

“I was watching it thinking he was going to roll it for Charlie to get his first goal, but he took the keeper by surprise, took the defender and he smashed it in.

“That's why he's got a record in development football of getting goals, because he's got that knack about him.”

Simpson felt United set a strong tone in the first half, but added: “In the second half we weren't able to get a grip of it – and I think they [Barrow] are a good side. I think they've got some good footballers.

• Latest on injuries to defenders in Carlisle United's win over Barrow

“I thought the right-back [Neo Eccleston] who came in was excellent for them, a young kid on loan from Huddersfield who we've seen play through pre-season for them.

“That was a big change for them because when Rory Feely plays, he's a big outlet for because they look to hit him and they get second balls off him.

“So that was a big thing, but I thought we coped with a lot of their stuff in the first half and then second half was about just grit and determination and grinding it out and getting the result.”

Simpson said he was delighted with a first clean sheet of the campaign and was pleased for keeper Harry Lewis as well as defensive substitute Sam Lavelle, claiming the pair were often “scapegoats” for criticism during Carlisle’s struggles last season.

United protected their keeper well and Simpson said: “There was no point where Harry was at full stretch having to make saves.

“He was just dealing with some crosses coming in. We defended our box really well.”

United’s boss, meanwhile, was adamant the officials made the right decision to disallow Barrow’s injury-time effort through Dallas.

“Luckily we'd squeezed out as a group and we played the player offside and it was the right decision from the assistant,” Simpson said.

Simpson said the officials were right to rule out Barrow's late goal (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I've seen it. I've looked at the video. At the time I wouldn't have been able to tell, but the flag went up straight away.

“When I look at it, the lad in the middle, I think it was [Theo] Vassell – he was clearly offside.

“It wasn't him who actually got the header, it was the lad [Dallas] who came from the far post. But he [Vassell] was clearly offside and they both went for the ball.”

Simpson says he hopes the anxiety for a result which was part of United’s second half experience will now ease.

“You get a nervousness about you. You forget about what got you a good level of performance,” said United’s manager.

“You start to look at the end, you start to wish the game away.

“We probably got into that because of the nervousness to try and get that result, but thankfully we were able to do it and hopefully it will be calmer now.”