It was a point on the road for Carlisle United in their first away game of the season at Colchester – but what did we learn from the game?
Let’s take a closer look.
1 Comeback spirit
Ok, this may be a positive spin on a half when you concede the first goal sloppily.
But we can all think of Carlisle teams in seasons past when such a moment would have been the cue for collapse.
Instead, Paul Simpson’s Blues rode the 19th-minute Colchester goal they shipped via Ben Barclay’s error and Noah Chilvers' finish, and forced their way back into things.
They inhibited the hosts’ counter-attacking threat and, eventually, took the chance they needed to get back on terms via Kristian Dennis in the 45th minute.
It took them until mid-September last season to gain a result from a losing position. So Saturday was a small early tick in the character box.
2 Goal would give Armer a hand
Again and again, Jack Armer has made some excellently-timed runs, arriving from his left wing-back position onto back-post chances.
Something is clearly working in the way United’s system is producing such opportunities.
And Armer himself is showing no lack of eagerness and athleticism to get on the end of deliveries such as the treat of a cross Jordan Gibson sent his way at Colchester.
What the former Preston man needs now is to finish one of them, sooner rather than later, and add to his two goals in a Blues shirt to date.
There are only so many good opportunities you can pass up before the risk of a mental block comes in. If United can start adding goals from positions such as this, they - and Armer - will become a much more enhanced threat.
3 Holy war
As United’s last line of defence, Tomas Holy has done a solid job so far.
His goalkeeping is not without its eccentricities. Not in the barmy, maverick sense, but certainly in the Czech’s willingness to depart his penalty area, sometimes by quite some distance.
The modern keeper is seldom stitched to his six-yard box. In Holy’s case, he makes you catch your breath on occasions when he turns up more than 30 yards from goal, or chases out wide to deal with a problem.
So far, these forays haven’t caused United any bother. When it came to the bread and butter at Colchester, meanwhile, Holy was secure.
He was certainly a reassuring presence at crosses and, other than one clearance he bashed against Morgan Feeney, was pretty failsafe in his other work.
Holy is clearly vocal, and a big character as well as a big presence. So far, so good.
4 Delivery options
While Carlisle haven’t got their finishing up to scratch yet, the quality of their delivery has been high.
The crossing of Owen Moxon, Jordan Gibson and Fin Back has often been excellent.
It’s partly the reason why, according to The Near Post, Carlisle’s expected goals (xG) figure of 2.91 from open play is the highest in the EFL so far.
This speaks well of the standard of supply. Moxon has two assists to his name already – one less orthodox for Dennis against Crawley, one a pinpoint centre for the striker at Colchester.
Other excellent chances have come the way of Dennis, Ryan Edmondson and Jack Armer, whose movement has been good to sniff things out.
United's creators simply have to keep hitting these levels, and hope that improved conversion habits will help them tot up the assists.
5 Time to bed in
There is nothing like being thrown straight into battle to expose a player to what is needed.
Hopefully Jack Stretton will benefit from his 25-minute cameo at Colchester as he aims to get up to speed with Simmo’s style and demands.
The Derby loan striker’s first taste of United action came in a new-look strike pairing with Omari Patrick.
With one player only just through the door and the other getting back to full tilt after injury, it is perhaps unsurprising that Carlisle did not finish the game with a great deal of attacking force.
There were no chances to speak of for United’s subs, with more of the important work going on at the other end in the second half. Training-ground time, and possibly a League Cup run-out at Shrewsbury, will hopefully get Stretton attuned to early life in Simpson’s team.
6 Being bold pays off
United have started both their games so far at a decent clip, and could have had a hatful of goals had their finishing been sharper.
There is clearly merit in their style – and clear rewards, in their division, for teams that play with boldness, rather than too much method or safety.
Look at Barrow: pre-season relegation favourites, and two opening games against a pair of promotion favourites. They’ve come out with two wins, six goals and, no doubt, an initial burst of belief.
League Two is pretty much the highest remaining level when the genuinely unpredictable remains distinctly possible, regularly, in terms of the table shakedown.
As such, Carlisle must continue playing with enterprise, energy, intent. If fortune does indeed favour the brave, Simmo’s instincts and front-foot intentions could be right.
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