Carlisle United kept their promotion push on track with a battling 1-0 win at Rochdale – but what did we learn from the game? Let’s take a closer look…
1 CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
This was far from a silky spectacle, yet crucially Carlisle were able to do the grittier side of the game in order to safeguard their three points.
With chances not flowing freely after John-Kymani Gordon’s opener, it was vital the Blues were able to dig in to limit Rochdale’s ability to mount a fightback.
They did so with some unspectacular but highly dogged work in which their midfielders in particular came to the fore.
Jordan Gibson may not be known as their most defensive-minded player but, at Spotland, he topped the tackle count with seven.
Owen Moxon was close behind with six, while Callum Guy’s three interceptions was the equal highest on show.
All three, according to stats on WhoScored.com, rated significantly higher than their Dale midfield counterparts.
On a pitch that put smooth football at a premium, the battling industry of Paul Simpson’s middle men stood out.
2 BLUES KEPT THEIR HEADS
Simpson referred to this after the game, and it bears repeating. Carlisle managed to keep a lid on their emotions when it might have been easier to lose a little control in the scrap.
They managed to pick up three bookings in an edgy first half as Ross Joyce’s yellow card leapt from his pocket like bread from a toaster.
Paul Huntington was cautioned for a foul, Morgan Feeney for dissent and JK Gordon after catching a home player with his arm.
Two of their main defenders, and their inexperienced young goalscorer, all had to walk that tightrope for the rest of proceedings against a side desperate for any sort of advantage.
It is to their credit that they played within themselves in a disciplinary sense, despite the range of attacking options Jim Bentley threw onto the pitch in an increasingly urgent bid for a point.
Rochdale came on strong in late second-half spells, their new signing D’Mani Mellor a handful alongside Devante Rodney.
Carlisle, in just about keeping them at bay, did not give Mr Joyce the opportunity to divert the course of the game with a red card.
It spoke well of their maturity under pressure.
3 CZECH MATE
A word for United’s goalkeeper, who had a rough old moment a couple of months back but has totted up several clean sheets since.
Walsall in the FA Cup, on November 26, was a day to forget for Tomas Holy, whose late error allowed the Saddlers back into that second round tie.
Simpson kept faith with the big Czech and the following eight games have seen some largely solid work.
Four shut-outs have come in their most recent six outings, taking the overall tally to 11 for the campaign.
Holy had to extend his big frame to keep out a goalbound shot from home sub Abraham Odoh as Rochdale threw everything at United on Saturday.
He was beaten late on by Ian Henderson, in a moment Simpson felt Holy could have cleaned up better, but the offside flag spared the Blues.
It is fair to say he has come back soundly from a moment at the Poundland Bescot Stadium which might have made smaller characters shrivel. He remains justifiably Carlisle’s No1.
4 THERE’S OK…THEN THERE’S JK
John-Kymani Gordon made it two goals in three appearances with his counter-attacking winner at Spotland.
The Crystal Palace teenager showed impressive anticipation and pace to break onto an excellent Kristian Dennis pass before shooting confidently home.
Gordon has made an encouragingly rapid start to life with Carlisle, up there with the best for instant impact made by a loan striker in recent times.
Gordon has matched Joshua Kayode’s start of two in his first three outings, the latter’s goals coming in 2019/20.
The 19-year-old’s efforts have come in just 201 minutes of action with the Blues too.
Gordon’s confidence must be sky-high after such a positive introduction, and long may that continue.
We also, on Saturday, saw the value of what United have in reserve for moments when Gordon needs to be taken out of the fray.
Omari Patrick, his replacement at Rochdale, put his pace up against the home defence, drawing challenges and fouls.
Then there was the gnarled old head of Joe Garner, who was bothering opponents and getting into the referee’s ear within seconds of coming on.
With Dennis also effective even on a day when he didn’t score, it’s a more varied range of attacking weaponry than United have been able to summon for some time.
5 HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED
It is known that Carlisle have a midfielder from Denton Holme who is…rather good.
However, in light of the transfer deadline coming tomorrow, we had better stay on the safe side and not mention his name.
We will simply talk about what he does, instead.
At Rochdale, even in a grind of a game, he was United’s most involved player.
He had more touches of the ball than anyone else in Simpson’s team.
He played more ‘key passes’ than any other player. He attempted more dribbles than his peers, drew more fouls than anyone else and executed more passes too.
Then there was that lovely pirouette which sent Rochdale’s Toumani Diagouraga halfway into the home end at the Crown Oil Arena.
Even in the dour games, he’s standing out. And he’s one of our own. Just don’t speak his name until February 1.
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