Carlisle United 0 Walsall 0: There was a fundamental politeness about this game which saw it through to a conclusion that looked, from a long way out, fairly predictable. In approach and style, Carlisle respected Walsall who respected Carlisle; nil-nil, thanks very much, see you again in a fortnight.
It did not want for effort or battle, yet it was significant that defences dominated. Both sides were more comfortable protecting their zero than confronting it at the other end.
For all the energy expended, that probably reflected what both teams saw when they looked into each other's half. In Walsall’s field of vision was a Carlisle team who were strong at home, decent in general and not given to offering up freebies at Brunton Park.
United, when they peered at the white shirted opposition, saw a side growing into ripe form, stacked with solid operators, the manager of the month on the sideline and a tuned-up readiness to leap on anything loose.
As such, Carlisle didn’t offer anything loose. Defensively, they were bang on the money. Morgan Feeney had one of those games where you think he’s going to head away low-flying pigeons as well as the football. Tomas Holy’s goalkeeping was proactive. The work in front of them, from such as Callum Guy and Owen Moxon, was industry itself.
What they didn’t offer was anything to startle a Saddlers back line in a similar state of intent. While the sizeable trio of Hayden White, Donervon Daniels and Manny Monthe were excellent, Carlisle cannot say they came up with many ideas to pierce and penetrate.
Their best intentions, in the end, came from the corner quadrant. They forced 11 flag-kicks and hoped someone could get a flick or a nudge onto one of Moxon’s several searching deliveries.
When this didn’t work either – Paul Simpson had certain things to say about the unpunished “grappling” that blocked off some of his runners – it was plain that United didn’t have enough else, and nor, to be strictly true, did Walsall
A mild autumn day therefore got the benign result it deserved, one that refused to allow you to go too far towards criticism or praise. Could have been better, could have been worse. “It’s a point, and now we move onto the next one,” said Simpson, which would serve as a better match report than all this waffle.
Games like this might be an analyst’s dream but for the supporter turning up after a hard week’s work in anticipation of some fun…not so much. In a first half which obliged Carlisle to play into the sun, it was hard to see who might seize matters. United had the better of it but only in a qualified sense.
They seldom made the ball stick against Michael Flynn’s three towers, rarely got Ryan Edmondson into striking distance, didn’t have the consistent wit to avoid landing the ball onto the heads of those big defenders.
As such, they were dependent on infrequent forays when they connected things better. Jack Armer was a useful outlet on the left and from one Moxon corner, Guy and Armer tested Walsall's resolve with shots.
A while later, Armer crossed excellently and Fin Back’s header tested goalkeeper Owen Evans, but before and after such moments United’s play was a frustrating combination of hungrily winning back the ball and not using it with particular care. That was also one of the few times Back got deep into Walsall territory down his side. Carlisle's system did not seem tailored to pouring men into the visitors' danger zone.
At least, when Walsall invaded, United’s work was good. Feeney made some good covering challenges and Danny Johnson, the visiting top scorer, seldom got United’s goalposts in his eyeline.
In hindsight, the way the first half ended was pivotal. First, Jordan Gibson threaded Armer through and referee Ollie Yates judged Liam Bennett’s chasing challenge fair.
It was a borderline call from a referee who seemed reluctant to show authority with big calls all game (not to mention the several occasions when Walsall players seemed intent on borrowing Edmondson's shirt). After that, United’s best chance was sent over the bar by Taylor Charters after Gibson had done well to manufacture an excellent opening on the right.
From there, it remained a battle of matching intentions, Walsall sometimes threatening with the driving runs of Jacob Maddox, Carlisle persistently winning corners but not converting any.
Maddox’s best attempts – a miss from a narrow angle, a closer attempt late on – were about the best of it for the visitors. Johnson’s only proper sight of goal drew a largely routine Holy save.
Isaac Hutchinson and the tricky, left-sided Liam Gordon also threatened to open the can, down a left hand side where Carlisle's Back was not having his cleanest game, but couldn’t quite manage it. For United, Kristian Dennis and then Jack Stretton were introduced but the Blues' attempts remained hopeful rather than slick. Moxon’s corner deliveries were true, but too often eluded those in the box.
Edmondson’s toil remained more left-sided than anything else, and hence marginal, and when Feeney was lining up a shot from 30 yards with a few minutes left it told you that better creative thoughts had mostly passed by.
And that was the day: solid without spark, steady without sunshine; four without defeat, one win in five (in the league), take your pick, move on. The FA Cup tie between these two, we can only hope, will tap into the creative juices a little more.
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