Gavin Skelton was pleased with Carlisle United’s workout at Workington – even though he admitted the Blues were below their best.
Paul Simpson’s side beat Danny Grainger’s men 3-0 thanks to a Ryan Edmondson brace and a late own-goal.
The game saw Simpson give an hour’s action to several players including contract hopeful Jamie Devitt.
READ MORE: Verdict - Ryan Edmondson shines in the sun as Carlisle United beat battling Workington Reds
Ex-Leeds United man Edmondson boosted his pre-season tally in front of more than 1,000 fans at Borough Park.
Assistant manager Skelton said: “In terms of another workout, that was pleasing, and it was also a pleasing result.
“We got the goals and a clean sheet, but when it comes to the performance, were we right at it and are we delighted? Probably not.
“Hopefully there’s more to come from us but we got good minutes into the legs for a lot of the lads and that’s good for us after what has been another tough week.
“It’s three weeks until we start the season so this is where the real game preparation starts. We’re all really excited about that.”
Manager Simpson gave defender Corey Whelan the full 90 minutes whilst giving others 60 minutes or 30 minutes.
Edmondson came off at half-time with a dead leg but Skelton said he expects the summer signing to train as normal on Monday.
He was impressed with the 21-year-old frontman’s efforts and added: “He’ll be pleased, but it wasn’t just that. I thought his hold up play was really good at times.
“He mixed it up well between showing to feet and then stretching the game and getting in behind, which was what got him his second goal.
READ MORE: Workington Reds 0-3 Carlisle United - as it happened!
“Strikers get confidence off goals and he’ll be feeling good about himself. Hopefully he’ll kick off even more for us.”
Simpson was without another frontman in Kristian Dennis, who was attending a family wedding.
Otherwise – bar the injured trio of Omari Patrick, Taylor Charters and Sam Fishburn – Carlisle’s squad got more minutes into their legs in the third friendly of pre-season.
Skelton admitted it had been another step up in standard as Carlisle progress through their summer programme.
“It was a difficult test for us and I thought Workington performed really well,” he added.
“The pitch is in excellent condition but obviously with the Cumbrian sun as it was it meant that it was dry and it was hard to get any tempo into the game.
“Workington have got some really good players. They’ll be disappointed they lost 3-0 – I don’t think either keeper has had loads to do.
“It is good getting back into good habits. It’s all been focusing on fitness, but then you start looking at the football side and the basics – second balls, clearing your lines, squeezing the game, things we can work on in the next couple of weeks.
“In terms of fitness levels – really pleased.”
Skelton said there was no particular reason why Whelan was the man chosen to play the full game.
“We had 19 players, so he was one we looked at – no particular reason with Corey doing it, we just thought that was the best way to go about it,” the coach said.
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