Carlisle Utd joint assistant manager Lee Dykes: The win over Blackburn was very pleasing

The Blues completed an unbeaten 2017/18 pre-season campaign at Brunton Park with Reggie Lambe and substitute Shaun Miller scoring, with the other goal coming from the boot of Blackburn defender Ryan Nyambe. Former Carlisle United striker Danny Graham scored Rovers’ goal.

Until last night, Keith Curle’s team had only played non-league opposition but they handled the step-up in opposition well as they beat a Blackburn side that will hope to be battling it out at the top of League One during the season.

“It was really pleasing,” Dykes said. “Some of our periods and patterns in play are what we try to take into friendlies.

“Sometimes in pre-season, you can read too much into the result. You can win a game and not play so well. But I felt that we played very well.”

He added: “I thought Blackburn looked a very good team. They have some very strong players and some very physical players.

“They also have a good shape, so it was a good work-out for the lads. Blackburn you would expect to be there or thereabouts in League One. So, to come away having played so well is very pleasing.”

Having only played one higher division opponent in their warm-up preparations ahead of the League Two season kick-off at home to Swindon next Saturday, Dykes said: “I think we have had 37 preparation days in pre-season.

“We are well equipped we feel – physically and mentally. We have done some different activities. It is not just about the games.

“We train at a very high tempo. The manager [Keith Curle] demands that day in, day out. So, it is not just about games. We feel that Halifax offered a different threat to what Blackburn did.

“Halifax you would say are more suited to playing in League Two than Blackburn. We have prepared ourselves we feel in a very good way for Swindon.”

Summer signing Kelvin Etuhu didn’t feature in the game, although Dykes said he expects the former Bury man to be back “very soon” after picking up a minor injury.