Good game north of the border
Carlisle United enjoyed a good afternoon of football north of the border as goals from Brad Potts, Josh Gillies (2), Lewis Guy and Jack Lynch handed them a comfortable win at the Murray Park training ground home of Glasgow giants Rangers.
"We played really well and it was a really good work-out for the boys," manager Graham Kavanagh said. "Chris Chantler came through the game for us and the two lads from Liverpool played well."
"Games against Rangers are always enjoyable for us," he added. "There's an element of the Scotland against England thing and they always want to perform well and give us a test.
"I don't think we gave them much of an opportunity to play their game at all because we were very much in their faces and on our game. We closed down when we were out of possession and we showed some real quality when we had the ball.
"We come away feeling pleased with what we've seen because individually, and as a group, we've stepped up and done the job we were asked to do."
"Chris Chantler got through just over an hour and that was exactly what he needed at this stage," he confirmed. "He's well ahead of where we thought he would be and that's good for him and us.
"It will have done him the world of good and he'll be feeling confident and ready to push on even more from here."
"We had three trialists with us and, like I say, the two lads from Liverpool looked sharp and bright," he said. "Rui [Ferreira] picked up an injury and we had to take him off at half time. I think it would be unfair to judge him on the 45 minutes we saw today.
"He showed some early glimpses and decent touches but I do think he still has a bit of work to do. His English isn't the best but he definitely has a lot of talent, there is no doubt about that."
"I need to speak to Liverpool about their lads," he continued. "We won't be doing anything with them as of yet, because we have other irons in the fire, but looking ahead they are definitely two lads I would like to see again and, if possible, bring them in to join up with us to take another look during the summer."
"We're trying to build relationships with as many clubs as possible and this one started with a conversation with Mike Marsh who is now a first team coach with Liverpool," he told us. "He spoke to Alex Inglethorpe, who has been brought in to coach the U21 squad for them, and I've had a couple of conversations with Alex from there.
"We got on well and we were able to talk about this kind of situation. I think it was important that we did things properly as soon as we found out the lads were coming up here. We got them into hotels and we've looked after them, and I think they will go back down there with a very good impression of the way we like to work.
"That should mean the staff at Liverpool will look at us in a good light if we go back and ask them about players because they know they can trust us. Both lads played well and I think it will have been a good experience for them. Like I say, hopefully we'll see more of them in the near future."
United - Fleming, Gwinnutt, Sokolik, Edwards, Chantler (Townsend 62), Symington, Potts (Lynch 46), Lynch, Roddan, Brough, Gillies, Ferreira (Guy 46).
As well as former-Benfica forward Rui Ferreira, manager Graham Kavanagh welcomed two members of the Liverpool U21 squad into the starting line up this afternoon.
Midfielder Craig Roddan, 20, has worked his way through the ranks at Anfield and has been a regular in the U21 side over recent seasons.
Czech-born central defender Jakub Sokolik joined the Reds from Banik Ostrava during the 2009/10 season having been with his home town club from the age of six. Another who has edged his way towards the Anfield U21 Development Squad.
