Unbeaten Carlisle Utd march on as Barnet boss turns the air blue

The Blues XI that drove Barnet's manager into a sweaty afternoon of swearing have too much potential, too much quality, not to be contenders. Already League Two's last unbeaten side, could this be the group that brings success back to Brunton Park after so many fallow years?

The signs are there, even if they are not yet proficient at putting opponents away. A one-goal lead can feel very thin indeed at Barnet's ground, and Keith Curle's team needed to find extra energy reserves in August's clammy heat to see out the victory.

That they did, and managed to convert Jabo Ibehre's goal into three well-earned points, demonstrated good things about a side who are finding a positive path in these early weeks.

In the first half they were so superior that an impromptu, angry team-talk by Allen, littered with more expletives than a Chubby Brown encore, drew applause from some of Barnet's fed-up fans. In the second half, when the home side rediscovered some vigour, United kept the dangerous John Akinde and his colleagues at bay.

Overall, there should have been no doubting the outcome long before some tricky closing minutes. Led by a slick attacking midfield trio of Nicky Adams, Jamie Devitt and Reggie Lambe, behind the familiar figure of Ibehre, Carlisle had enhanced this game with some dynamic passing and movement that ought to trouble most other sides in a normally tight fourth tier.

Yet, in order to taste the nectar of promotion, 1-0 wins at places like The Hive can be essential. Having found dramatic ways of drawing games - including Tuesday night, when they went the distance and more with Derby in the EFL Cup - United needed to hustle any sort of victory out of a tough opponent next. Holding off Barnet, the third best home side in the division in 2015/16, was a tribute to their powers of endurance.

Whether they can rouse themselves again for the final game of this four-match away run at Oldham (in the Checkatrade Trophy tomorrow) remains to be seen, but there does seem a certain staying power in this group Curle has assembled, to go with their skills.

"It is testament to the strength and conditioning coach, and the medical department," said the manager, throwing praise towards, respectively, Lee Fearn and Neil Dalton. "Sometimes the best form of work is rest. It's getting that balance, understanding and trust.

"That's what we're building. We've got players who want to work hard. Sometimes the difficult thing is to stop them."

Allen's team seemed disinclined to do that themselves - certainly for the first half-hour. After describing his guests as top-four contenders "without a shadow of a doubt", Barnet's manager initially had no solution to United's 4-2-3-1 system, their sharpness on the ball and the opportunistic running of Adams down the left.

The Bees were supposed to be a hostile threat to any team that wandered into their orange and black home. But United were oblivious to their sting. First they built territorial advantage with some percentage play down both sides, earning some long throws and a couple of half-chances.

Then, 15 minutes in, they found some real fluency. In the space of two minutes they nearly scored twice - first Michael Raynes hitting the bar from an Adams corner, then Devitt slotting narrowly wide as United's angles of attack overwhelmed Barnet.

Allen at one stage pirouetted in frustration as a long ball from the back bounced tamely into Mark Gillespie's gloves. Further angst was then caused as Carlisle took the lead: a measured long pass from Macaulay Gillesphey, a trademark run from Adams, and a cross the unmarked Ibehre couldn't fail to convert.

Barnet's failure to spot one of League Two's best assists men (Adams) in so much space was criminal. Their limitations in attack had caused undue pressure on their defence, and goalkeeper Jamie Stephens had to be alert to tip over another Adams floater as United made further inroads.

When, a few minutes later, Ibehre caught Sam Togwell in a 50-50, requiring treatment, the stoppage led the home manager into an outburst of pure Mike Bassett. He summoned his players and asked when they would be ******* starting the game. He informed them they were fortunate not to be three-*******-nil down. They would have 15 minutes to correct things, he concluded, "or I'm ******* changing it."

These eruptions, in close proximity to the media seats, drew a positive response from home fans listening, and provoked a little improvement in Barnet. Akinde squeezed a shot through the defence, but wide of goal, and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro belted one over the bar as United sat back.

Yet there was still menace in Carlisle's counter-attacking, and some evidence of Devitt's very watchable craft on the ball. Before the break the Irishman crossed for Ibehre to head an inch or two wide, and then swept the ball wide for Lambe almost to tee up Ibehre again.

All you wanted to see added to this was a second ruthless finish - and more of the grit at the back we saw at Derby. Allen changed shape, and brought on the gangly frontrunner Shaun Batt at the break, but Carlisle remained on the offensive, Lambe having a further shot blocked and Devitt testing Stephens after a dash through central space. Danny Grainger was next to try, flashing a right-footer narrowly wide after some impressive keep-ball on the right.

Allen sent for further substitutes, using up all three by the hour, and one of them, Mauro Vilhete, was in the thick of a chance which Akinde couldn't quite keep in play. United did not need to encourage this, and the midfield graft of Mike Jones and Luke Joyce helped keep them honest, but the game did become more testing as the final phase unfolded.

Charlie Wyke, on for Devitt, did well to set up the galloping Lambe for another near miss. The Bermudan then crashed one against the outside of the post after good Adams work. At the other end, Barnet grew more persistent, Bondz N'Gala threatening from a scramble and then Akinde bearing down on Gillespie at a bouncing ball forward, the free-kick decision in Carlisle's favour seeming generous as it annoyed the north London crowd.

There was more of this to absorb, Batt's mobility improving Barnet, and Shaun Brisley was added to United's rearguard effort for his debut. With Russell Penn also introduced later in midfield, Gillespie saved with his feet from Akinde after a purposeful Barnet move. Brisley then did well to keep pace with Batt to see off one of their final forays.

The final minutes saw United work the clock down effectively, Akinde having one more try blocked as a period of crosses blew out. By the end, any further Allen cursing was now being done under his breath. In a more wholesome way it was Carlisle who had turned the air blue.MARK GILLESPIE - Enjoyed a gentle first-half, when United were dominant. Later had to be alert to make some decent saves as Barnet tried to find a way back.

TOM MILLER - In the action early with his long throws, and afterwards did a sharp, solid job at right-back to ensure Barnet got little attacking joy.

DANNY GRAINGER - Captain nearly scored as he looked to offer Adams good support down left. Tidy enough at the back as he dug in to help Blues to clean sheet.

MICHAEL RAYNES - The organiser at the heart of defence, Raynes was as tidy as was needed in first half, and impressed in the trenches as United battled through to victory.

MACAULAY GILLESPHEY - Involved in the goal with the measured distribution that was a feature of his play. Had to be watchful when Barnet increased their lines of attack, but young loanee played his part.

MIKE JONES - His hard work and exemplary positional sense in midfield saw United gain and retain early control. Also showed a good range of passing as Blues did enough to claim the points.

LUKE JOYCE - Role alongside Jones seems to his liking and is getting the best out of Joyce's natural battling qualities, while others do the damage further forward. Another solid showing.

NICKY ADAMS - United's most dynamic player found some early joy on left and did not shy from going back for more, setting up Ibehre's winner and always carrying ball with intent.

REGGIE LAMBE - Although not at full flight before break, Bermudan impressed as he stretched Barnet in second half, going close to another goal as he kept defenders on back foot and linked play.

JAMIE DEVITT - Some of his passing was a joy to watch, and when Devitt was in the game his vision was at the heart of some good United work. Replaced after the hour as Curle tried to add more firepower.

JABO IBEHRE - Battled willingly against two centre-halves and was rewarded with poacher's goal. Close to another, and certainly played a substantial part in United's triumph.

Subs: Charlie Wyke (for Devitt 63) - Battling effort up front; Shaun Brisley (for Ibehre 74) - Useful defensive role on debut; Russell Penn (for Adams 84) - Helped Blues see things out. Not used: Max Crocombe, Mark Ellis, Joe McKee, Shaun Miller.

Goal: Ibehre 20

Booked: Ibehre

Barnet: Stephens, Taylor, N’Gala, Nelson, Johnson, Nicholls (Vilhete 55), Togwell, Watson (Batt 46), Weston, Akinde, Akpa Akpro (Gambin 60). Not used: Vickers, Sesay, Muggleton, Champion.

Booked: Nelson

Ref: Robert Jones

Crowd: 1,620 (298 Carlisle fans)