Tranmere Rovers 2 Carlisle United 2: This refitted Carlisle United team are what we in the newspaper game like to call good copy. In layman’s terms…ain’t dull, are they?
A while ago there was something deeply agonising but also predictably boring about the way the Blues slogged through their games, often in a losing cause. Now?
Even draws that keep them 18th in League Two are intense mini-dramas, in this case with hot tempers, flying fur and, poetically given the circumstances, a 98th-minute equaliser.
Not even Jimmy Glass left it that late. How, then, can you keep your eyes off this side bobbing along in the bottom half of the bottom division? How do you ignore the way Paul Simpson, a focused and sensible man, has pointed them towards this much commotion, even a little chaos?
“It’s character,” Simpson said, reflecting on this latest late goal of several under his management. True – and that was needed here, after Carlisle managed to gain a two-man advantage over Tranmere Rovers yet still found themselves staring at defeat going into the final seconds.
Scoring so late, so often is no accident. It speaks to the new belief coursing through this team Simpson has saved. Since his return, United have either safeguarded or won points beyond the 90th minute against Rochdale, Oldham Athletic, Northampton Town and now Micky Mellon’s sharp-elbowed promotion-chasers.
That, once the mercury has dropped just a tad, is the best conclusion to take from this spicy set-to by the Wirral. Simpson maintains United are not yet safe, but with this much spirit in hectic, dangerous, at times flawed circumstances, there can be few fears about them completing the mathematics soon.
The other matter that was clear through the furore is that this remains a team with defects – how could it be otherwise, after such a rotten first two thirds of 2021/22 – but which is going about the challenge of improving with the right heart.
The skirmishes and anger aside, United did good things and some less good things at Prenton Park. They almost lost a match they should, with a little more game smarts, have won. At the same time: they didn’t lose, amid an atmosphere Simpson described as “horrible” and against a side who’d won more home games than any other in League Two.
All things considered, Carlisle can take that to the bank after the earlier brittleness of this term. Played nine, won six, drawn one, lost two is on Simpson’s ledger now. It remains an outstanding dugout cameo which, pray, can become something longer-lasting.
This game erupted from the moment Tranmere’s Calum MacDonald launched himself into a fast and dangerous challenge on Kelvin Mellor late in the first half. Before then, things had progressed in a mildly unsatisfying manner. United gave up possession in the 15th minute, were picked off by the hosts down the right, Kane Hemmings swept home a cross and Carlisle, whose side contained three changes, had been just a little too porous in otherwise tight opening stages.
Mellon’s team were on their toes from there, going close through Kieron Morris, Elliott Nevitt and Josh Hawkes but never looking quite ruthless enough to kill a United who gradually made the ball stick better in the home half.
Kristian Dennis put their best chance across goal and other sort-of opportunities were generated via Jordan Gibson and Omari Patrick, but then Mellor’s loose touch at right-back tempted MacDonald into that scything slide.
Tranmere were aghast at Charles Breakspear’s decision to flash the red for a lunge Simpson maintained was “disgraceful”. This was the point things turned from warm to scalding. MacDonald diverted his tunnel-walk to give the prone Mellor some verbals, and found himself in a small shoving match with Ross Goodwin, United’s physio.
Alongside, furious scenes unfolded which will surely attract the attention of the Football Association. Peter Clarke, the home side’s 40-year-old captain, went nose to nose with Dennis. Others, including subs, were drawn to the situation like Fifa executives to an expense account. A steward toppled over in the disorder.
At one point it seemed like things were going to descend into irretrievable anarchy. Eventually, Breakspear – whose name was just a few letters out, given all the theatre – eventually showed yellow cards to four players, some for reasons only he will know, and then to both managers, one of whom (Simpson) had only tried to calm the situation, and another (Mellon) who did not seem to get involved at all.
Failing to control their benches was the apparent charge. Simpson, meanwhile, later accused stewards and police of failing to temper the abuse he and his colleagues received from the home crowd.
Anyway - the football. United began the second half by stretching the play, making Tranmere's ten men chase, and a rumble of pressure saw Jon Mellish (back in midfield for the day) hustle a corner out of Lewis Warrington. Gibson took it short to Patrick and, cutting in, his skill and panache did the rest.
One-one. Then a serious Tranmere squall, Tom Davies almost equalising, Morgan Feeney doing Morgan Feeney things to deny Hemmings. A while later, Gibson took a free-kick, Joe Murphy superbly saved Feeney's header, Gibson's next ball was cut out, the home side broke, and Nevitt was suddenly beyond a one-man rearguard of Danny Devine to put the hosts back in front.
Simpson made attacking subs, Mellon defensive ones. An afternoon of biting frustration seemed to be coming to a close for United. And yet. Morris caught Rod McDonald with a high challenge and was dismissed. Sho-Silva, on for Dynel Simeu, volleyed over the bar in the 95th minute.
Too soon, Tobi? Indeed - for then came the real Silva service: a timely diving header after a brilliant Gibson attempt had hit the post. As Simeu, in his coat, came galloping back onto the pitch to celebrate, many in the away end noted that the goal had come in extra, extra minutes which had resulted from some Tranmere fans having repeatedly booted the ball high up the stand after it had bounced out of play a few moments earlier.
You love, let’s be clear, to see it. Just as you love being regaled by this unending spirit, backbone and sheer madness of Simpson’s grandstand Blues.
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