Carlisle United 0 Blackpool 1: Demetri Mitchell’s goal was the difference for Blackpool as fans returned to Brunton Park for the first time in 2021.

Some 1,863 supporters – including 256 from Blackpool – watched the Championship new boys have the edge in United’s first home pre-season friendly of the summer.

Mitchell struck in the 37th minute when he outpaced Carlisle’s defence on the break and slotted past keeper Lukas Jensen.

Carlisle almost fought back against a much-changed Blackpool in the closing 25 minutes following a host of visiting substitutions, Brennan Dickenson missing their best chance six minutes from time.

Zach Clough and Gime Toure also went close as United applied late pressure, but the Cumbrians couldn’t find a way through in their latest warm-up game two weeks before the start of the 2021/22 season.

There was a first-half injury concern as Morgan Feeney went off after half-an-hour, while Blues boss Chris Beech handed home debuts to four other players in Clough, Jensen, Tristan Abrahams and Manny Mampala – while fit-again keeper Magnus Norman played the second half.

With fans in the Pioneer Stand and Paddock – and the first travelling support at the ground since the Covid-19 outbreak halted football in March 2020 – Brunton Park heard the welcome sounds of cheers and applause as the teams emerged.

Blackpool were quick to take control of things as their passing game left United struggling to get a foothold on the immaculate Blues pitch.

CJ Hamilton was an early threat on the left, but the visitors’ final ball was often their undoing in the first half, Jerry Yates failing to reach a Mitchell delivery and Luke Garbutt’s corners failing to endanger United.

Aaron Hayden got his head in the way of a Keshi Anderson shot before Carlisle finally put together a more composed move, teenager Lewis Bell producing a neat flick before arriving on the edge of the box to pull Abrahams’ lay-off wide.

United, though, otherwise failed to carve out any chances in the first half despite Bell and Jon Mellish almost combining to good effect on the left.

The Blues then saw defender Feeney down hurt and in need of treatment – and, though he then appeared to jog comfortable to the sideline, Beech withdrew the ex-Everton and Sunderland man.

Dickenson took his place as United changed to a back three, with Dickenson and Bell now wing-backs. One powerful Dickenson run almost set up Abrahams before the Seasiders broke to score.

It came as Mitchell beat Jack Armer to the ball in United’s half and then showed pace to run clear of the defender, also evading Hayden’s attempt to bring him down as he sent a composed low finish past Jensen.

It was the first goal United had conceded in this pre-season with the Cumbrians in need of an increased attacking threat to fight back, with Abrahams and Clough feeding off scraps against their Championship opponents despite the game’s generally good and competitive tempo.

Keeper Norman replaced Jensen at the break, as Blackpool introduced a trialist on their right.

The visitors came close to a second when Anderson fed Mitchell stepping inside from the left, but a deflection took the shot past Norman’s near post.

Toure was next into the action, replacing Bell, while the offside flag denied Hamilton a Blackpool second. Good pressing from Joe Riley then almost forced an opening but the midfielder was forced wide of the target.

Ex-United loan man Yates whipped a Blackpool shot over from the left before a quick throw saw Hamilton help set up Callum Connolly, who wasted a good position by firing over the bar.

Richard Keogh then came off the bench amid an eight-man substitution by boss Neil Critchley, the new Blackpool signing getting a good reception by fans of his former club, before Mampala was also introduced for his Blues home debut.

Another visiting sub, Oliver Sarkic, pulled a good chance wide after arriving onto a cross from the right. United then applied some steady pressure, Corey Whelan’s cross cleared after a good overlapping run, and captain Callum Guy’s free-kick then glanced just wide by Clough.

Dickenson’s latest run down the left then saw his attempted pass for Clough cut out, with Mampala in space in the middle, with Riley next sending a shot wide from a good position.

United finished the game on the front foot and should have levelled when Riley picked out Dickenson in space to the right with a fine ball, but the former Colchester and Exeter man, with just Maxwell to beat, controlled and fired wide of the left-hand post.

Blackpool sub Arnold Matshazi fired a shot straight at Norman with minutes remaining before Mampala and Taylor Charters combined to tee up Toure, who shot over after some trickery to the left of goal in United’s last serious attempt.

United had George Tanner back in their squad but absent were Rod McDonald, Lewis Alessandra and Danny Devine.

United: Jensen (Norman 46), Whelan, Armer, Hayden, Feeney (Dickenson 30), Guy, Riley, Mellish (Dixon 81), Bell (Toure 56), Clough (Charters 81), Abrahams (Mampala 70). Not used: Simons, Tanner, Fishburn.

Blackpool: Maxwell, Connolly (Mariette 66), Ekpiteta (Fitzgerald 83), Husband (Keogh 66), Garbutt (Moore 66), Ward (Carey 66), Trusty (Trialist 46), Mitchell (Holmes 66), Anderson (Sarkic 66), Hamilton (Matshazi 66), Yates (Bange 66). Not used: Monks.

Goal: Mitchell 37.

Ref: Anthony Backhouse.

Crowd: 1,863 (256 Blackpool fans)