I think most Carlisle United fans would have been pretty pleased with the way the side performed, despite the Blues’ 2-0 home defeat to Tranmere. I noticed, from the start, that loan frontman Jerry Yates was heavily marked.

It took United 15 minutes to get into the contest and they created a few chances that could have gone in, but it wasn’t to be.

The way the match was going in the second half on Saturday, it looked like Rovers would settle for a goalless draw but then Jamie Devitt’s penalty miss changed the game.

I don’t blame Devitt for missing his spot-kick. I thought he actually had another good game. He is growing in confidence and is starting to see things early.

Tranmere brought just shy of 800 fans with them to Brunton Park. I’m pleased they are back in League Two after getting promoted from the National League through the play-offs last term. They are a good, traditional Football League club.

At the start of the season, I mentioned that eight league matches into the season would be a good time to gauge how well Carlisle had started. If somebody had said to me, you’d be level on points with a team in the play-offs and 11th in the League Two table, I’d have snapped that up.

The Blues haven’t suffered successive defeats this season and, hopefully, they keep up that particular record this weekend at Bury.

Hopefully, we see a bit of character from the side at Gigg Lane.

Bury have had a similar kind of start to the season as to the one Carlisle have enjoyed with Bury seventh.

Tomorrow’s match is followed by two home games, against Stevenage and Grimsby so, hopefully, the Cumbrians can collect a good few points in the next run of matches.

Nicky Adams is now among Bury’s ranks, having left United in the summer. I liked Adams. He was unfortunate with the injury that he got last season.

It’s good to see a local lad, Liam McCarron, being given a chance at first-team level by Blues boss John Sheridan.

Much like with singers, you have to get on to the stage to know what it’s about. In the past, United have tended to go with loan players, but at least Sheridan is prepared to give the younger players a go.

With the way the league is now, young players are going to have to come through with the limited resources that teams in League Two generally seem to have now. I know clubs sometimes share the wages when lower-league clubs bring in players from higher divisions but, even then, that can be expensive at times.

Carlisle-born Kevin Beattie died recently. He was a colossus of a player. If he hadn’t of had the bad injuries that he had, he would have made 100 England appearances, I think.

That’s the best accolade I can give him. I think he would have commanded a place and then he wouldn’t have given it up.

Apart from Lincoln, who are threatening to open up a gap at the top of the table, the league is extremely tight this season.

But the Imps seem in fine form and they seem to have got the crowds back with their average attendance for home matches currently well over 8,000.