Carlisle United 1-0 Mansfield Town: Blues secure survival after Patrick strike sinks Mansfield

The frontman's 56th minute was enough to take the Blues out of reach of their fellow strugglers with three games to go.

It was a seventh win in 12 games under Paul Simpson and saw United complete the survival job after a revival under the Cumbrian manager.

It came in a barnstrorming and controversial contest against the promotion-chasing Stags, who had what appeared a legitimate goal ruled out late in the first half.

Nigel Clough's men had the better of the opening 45 minutes, with keeper Mark Howard coming to the rescue for United - but Carlisle could have scored a hatful in a much better second half display.

United's mathematical safety is a matter of great relief after an often dire campaign until Simpson's arrival.

Paul Simpson celebrates survival (photo: Ben Holmes)

And the focus will now turn to the manager's future now he has steered his home-city club away from the risk of relegation to non-league.

Simpson rang the changes for the penultimate home game of the season - making four.

They included a first outing since early February for frontman Lewis Alessandra, along with recalls for Joe Riley, Danny Devine and Jack Armer.

Onto the bench went Kelvin Mellor, Rod McDonald, Tyrese Omotoye and Kristian Dennis.

There was good news, meanwhile, in defence with Morgan Feeney passed fit to play despite the heart palpitations that saw him substituted on Friday.

Mansfield boss Clough, meanwhile, made two changes, recalling Stephen McLaughlin and Jamie Murphy at the expense of Farrend Rawson and John-Joe O'Toole.

Mansfield were quick onto the attack and could have gone ahead inside two minutes, as Elliott Hewitt sped down the right after a misplaced Jon Mellish pass.

Mark Howard makes a save (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Stephen Quinn, though, shot wide from the edge of the box.

Simpson had Jon Mellish back in defence as he reverted to 5-3-2, but Carlisle were very much on the defensive to start with, and Howard had to be alert to parry a Ryan Stirk shot on nine minutes.

Ollie Hawkins was next to see a header blocked, and Howard then excelled with a fine reaction save to keep out Jordan Bowery's shot as the Stags man turned and shot at the near post.

Another Mansfield cross gave Hewitt just too much to do and it took until the 16th minute for United to make any real inroads.

Their first opportunity, though, almost brought a goal as keeper Nathan Bishop's punch from an Armer cross fell to Alessandra, whose back-header was nodded towards goal by Dynel Simeu, only for McLaughlin to clear off the line.

Jamie Murphy then got his measurements wrong when trying to chip Howard midway through the first half.

United got to the pace of the game better as things went on, but struggled to make serious attacking headway, and had some sloppy moments in possession.

Their survival prospects, though, were boosted nonetheless in the first half with news that Oldham were two down at Forest Green.

And they remained level after the half's major flashpoint on 41 minutes.

Mansfield thought they'd scored when Murphy met a cross and his shot hit the underside of the crossbar before appearing to cross the line.

Assistant referee Chris Isherwood, though, kept his flag down and the Stags were denied a goal which replay footage appeared to confirm should have been given.

That gave the visitors and their fans a strong sense of injustice as United reached the interval on level terms.

Mansfield again threatened early in the second half and Howard again came to the rescue with a smart stop from Murphy.

And then the Stags' frustrations deepened when the Cumbrians went in front.

The 56th-minute opener was all about Patrick as he went past his man to the left and sent a shot high into the net past Bishop.

It was a ninth goal since January for the speedy frontman.

Recalled Danny Devine on the attack (photo: Barbara Abbott)

And the Cumbrians then came very close to increasing their lead in a sudden wave of pressure.

First, a Gibson free-kick sent airborne by Patrick dropped fo Devine, whose volley went narrowly wide.

A superb solo run by Riley then took him from deep in his own half and eventually clean through before a last-ditch challenge by James Perch denied him a memorable goal.

From the resulting Dickenson corner, Feeney sent a header towards goal only for Bishop to turn it against the bar, Dynel Simeu unable to find the target with his follow-up attempt.

Next, Feeney sent Riley down the right but Gibson couldn't keep his header down from the wing-back's cross.

Further good work by Patrick on the left saw Gibson supplied for a shot which deflected just wide.

Then, from Dickenson's corner, Simeu arrived at the back post but headed against the upright.

It was a much more potent second half display for the Cumbrians, who repeatedly broke at Mansfield's defence, Patrick put through but denied by Bishop.

Feeney then hit the woodwork a second time when his effort from a Gibson corner was touched onto the post by Hewitt.

Mansfield struggled to get back on top, a Matty Longstaff shot into the Warwick a rare attempt by this stage, with Carlisle wasting another promising break when Gibson's pass was intercepted and sub Mitch Roberts fired wide, when Riley had been well placed for a pass to Gibson's right.

The offside flag then denied Patrick another when he slotted home from a break led by Riley and Gibson.

Mansfield, somehow still just one goal adrift, kept looking for a way back, sub George Maris denied in added time by Howard, and United seeing through their victory to banish any lingering fears of the drop in front of 5,496 fans.

Even a defeat would have seen United safe, with second-bottom Oldham's 2-0 defeat at Forest Green leaving John Sheridan's Latics unable to catch the Cumbrians, who are now 17th.

United: Howard, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Armer (Roberts 71), Riley, Devine, Dickenson, Gibson, Patrick, Alessandra (Sho-Silva 86). Not used: Norman, Mellor, McDonald, Omotoye, Dennis.

Goal: Patrick 56.

Booked: Armer, Simeu, Patrick, Dickenson.

Mansfield: Bishop, Stirk (Wallace 68), Perch, McLaughlin (Maris 80), Hawkins, Hewitt, Murphy, Quinn, Longstaff, Bowery (Johnson 75), Akins. Not used: Stech, Rawson, Law, O’Toole.

Ref: Ross Joyce.

Crowd: 5,496 (634 Mansfield fans)