Chris Beech on Carlisle United's win over Bradford City

A much-improved display led to a 3-1 home win over Bradford – the Cumbrians’ first victory in nine.

Rhys Bennett and two-goal Offrande Zanzala did the damage and head coach Beech was pleased with the quality of Carlisle’s play.

“I’ve got to credit the players, they responded to me,” he said.

“We talked about playing more football in terms of passes, because we weren’t happy with Tuesday’s performance [against Grimsby], even though we were very happy with the energy and the commitment to go right to the end to get the equaliser.

“I said, ‘We’re good players, let’s just go and play football’, and they did that.”

Striker Zanzala vindicated his call-up to the starting XI as the January signing made it three goals in two games.

And there were improved performances across the team as Carlisle moved up a place to 12th.

“It does feel very good,” said Beech of the welcome result.

From left, Jack Armer, Brennan Dickenson and Offrande Zanzala celebrate with opening goalscorer Rhys Bennett (phot: Barbara Abbott)

“We’ve been training very hard – I can’t reiterate the circumstances we’ve been put in since the turn of the year.

“But on Tuesday we ran 3km more than in previous games, and I have no doubt that in this game we’re getting back to where we were.

“It’s such a shame the situation we were put in [with Covid and postponements] because we want to do so well for this great football club.

“But to play a team like Bradford, and manage to take six points off them this season is very good.”

Beech praised keeper Paul Farman for “standing up and saving” when Ollie Crankshaw could have given the Bantams the lead.

Two corners then led to Bennett’s opener and Zanzala’s scrambled finish before half-time, the latter then heading home United's third after the break.

Gareth Evans pulled one back for the visitors but Carlisle held on for their first win since late January.

United’s opening goal came shortly after a bad miss by Lewis Alessandra when he failed to finish a rebound at close range.

But Beech said he was confident Carlisle were heading in the right direction regardless of that moment.

“The quality of football to get in that position was excellent,” he said. “Brennan’s strike was Premier League power, hence a very good save from their goalkeeper.

“I don’t know how Lewi made a mess of that but he did. But I was quite confident.

“The goals come from good football, the pressure, the consequence of the corners. It just puts very good players on the back foot and puts them under pressure.

“Rhys got his head on one, and Ozzy’s goal was almost like a rugby touchdown, but he deserves his first goal through what happened and how he accommodates centre-halves.”

Beech, who made three changes to his side, feels United are getting back to the levels they showed when storming up the table in the first half of the season.

They will hope to build on Saturday's win when they go to Mansfield on Tuesday night, hoping to reduce the nine-point gap to the play-off places.

Offrande Zanzala celebrates his second goal (photo: Barbara Abbott)

He added: “In our last four preparations to play our opponents, I can see the players back at it.

“But it needed a spur, I suppose, confirming with results.

“We work very hard, and in any working life, if you work hard in your day you want reward in it – it rubber stamps that and sends you to a different place.

“I’m happy winning, happier in my life, happier because that’s what it is when you are a winner and want to win.

“[When you are not winning] it opens debates, different conversations, who should and shouldn’t play, this, that and the other, but we’ve got to pick a team to go against an opponent.

“Sometimes you have to take a burden off somebody’s shoulders to relieve it so it can grow again. That takes strong decisions, that’s my job to protect our team.

“I’ve had to address certain things, look at a few things and come out the other side. I’m really pleased for everybody.”