HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU: Morecambe

We take a look at tonight's opponents

29 August 2017

Attentions temporarily turn away from Sky Bet League Two for United as we prepare to travel to Morecambe for the first of our Checkatrade Trophy group games.

Leicester City and Fleetwood will later make the trip to Brunton Park as the Blues look to make it to their seventh final in this competition.

Ahead of the opening game, we cast our eye over Tuesday’s hosts:

The manager's view

Speaking about tonight's game, manager Keith Curle said: "It’s a competitive game where we’re representing Carlisle United, and that means we go out there to win it.

"We want to do well in every competition we enter because our job is to represent our club as well as we can. With the skill sets we have here we know that when we perform we'll get the right result.

“There will be an opportunity for some of the players who are chomping at the bit to get some game time and to show everybody that they're ready to play their part.

"Training has been lively because there are players from Saturday who know they need a reaction. They also know they need to show they're the ones who should be wearing the shirt.

"I know Jim [Bentley] really well and I know his team will be well-drilled, organised and up for the game. We'll have to do our jobs from back to front because we want to put the weekend behind us and start to build momentum going into a run of important league fixtures."

Promising start

After uncertainty off the pitch thwarted the Shrimps’ progress last season, Jim Bentley’s side have enjoyed a good start to the 2017/18 campaign and have lost only once in League Two so far.

That defeat came at home to promotion hopefuls Swindon, with draws secured away from home against Lincoln City and Cambridge United.

Their only win of the season came on the opening day at home to Cheltenham, and Bentley will be keen to ensure his side get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.

But nonetheless, a five point haul from the opening four games represents an impressive start for Morecambe and sees them sitting 15th in League Two at this early stage.

Now, the North West outfit will be hoping to carry their promising league start into the Checkatrade Trophy.

Full debuts and potential recalls?

After a gruelling defensive display at Cambridge on Saturday, there’s likely to be some tired legs in the Morecambe squad and Bentley may well ring the changes.

Among those who could be handed an opportunity is German centre back Max Muller who joined the Shrimpers on loan from Wycombe last week and came off the bench at the weekend.

Fellow defenders Aaron McGowan and Luke Conlan were also introduced at the Abbey Stadium and could be given a started, while former Carlisle loanee Adam Campbell will be hoping to earn himself a start after failing to start since the Carabao Cup defeat at Barnsley.

We like a draw ...

While fixtures against the Shrimps have become a staple over recent years, our first meeting with Morecambe came back in 2004/05 during our one season in the Conference.

Since then, we’ve me 13 times with United claiming victory on four occasions. Morecambe have only once beaten the Cumbrians outright - a 3-2 success at Brunton Park in 2015 - although they did triumph on penalties after a cup tie in 2005.

Interestingly, eight of our meetings have ended in draws. Could we see a similar result this week?

There’s history in this competition

We’ve already met Morecambe twice in this competition in recent years, with United winning both games on penalties.

The first cup clash came in 2009/10 in what was Carlisle’s first win on the road to an eventual Wembley appearance. Morecambe twice took the lead only to be pegged back by two Graham Ka-vanagh strikes - the second coming deep into injury time - which forced penalties, with the Blues then triumphing 4-2 on spot kicks.

We then met again in 2013/14 in a far less dramatic affair. After a 0-0 draw the Blues edged past the Shrimpers, winning 4-3 on penalties.

Ones to Watch

+ Garry Thompson - An experienced attacker, Thompson returned to the club where he began his career during the summer. He spent the last two years at Wycombe and proved his worth as a real threat in League Two. The winger has also represented Bradford, Notts County and Scunthorpe in a career spanning almost two decades. Comfortable providing assists and scoring himself, Thompson will undoubtedly be a key member of the Morecambe side this season.

+ Aaron Wildig - The former Shrewsbury Town midfielder moved to the Globe Arena in 2015 having previously spent time on loan with the Shrimpers. A box-to-box midfielder, Wildig will look to drive Morecambe forward and has been a pivotal part of their squad since his arrival. Expect him to see plenty of the ball on Tuesday evening and make vital contributions at both ends of the pitch.

+ Kevin Ellison - With over 500 career appearances, Ellison adds some much needed experience to what is a relatively young Morecambe squad. Happy playing in any attacking position, whether centrally or out wide, Ellison is still contributing goals aplenty at the age of 38. He’s netted 69 times since joining the Shrimps in 2011 and will be keen to increase that tally this season.

Ones to Watch

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Morecambe 0 - 2 United

Report from the Tuesday night Checkatrade Trophy group game

29 August 2017

United travelled to the Globe Arena for the first of their Checkatrade Trophy group games on Tuesday night looking to bounce back from a disappointing weekend result.

And the visitors struck twice to claim their first group points in a game they largely controlled from the moment their early goal hit the target.

The Cumbrians took the lead with just 32 seconds on the clock when Shaun Miller got his toe end to a high ball over the top. His touch brought strike partner Hallam Hope into play and his crisp volley bulged the back of the net as he drilled his first goal of the campaign past a dive from Nizic.

Morecambe tried to settle their way into the game following the early blow and a long range effort from Fleming had the home crowd interested until it zipped just over the bar.

Carlisle attacked in numbers as they tried to keep the upper hand and a cross from Joyce was hooked back into the area by Devitt. It looped over Nizic but it was always heading wide.

The Cumbrians started to look dangerous and James Brown scuffed a shot over the target when he found unexpected space 22-yards out. The blue shirts regrouped and a flowing move brought Parkes into a crossing position. He curled one to the far post but Kennedy couldn't quite find the touch as it bounced over his boot.

Former-United forward Adam Campbell sparked a crisp move for the hosts when he fed the ball down the right flank. He was in the area for the return pass and George had to drop low to deal with a volley on the spin which was heading in the right direction.

Hope did well at the other end when he bent his run to angle into the area, but his low cross was put behind as Miller moved to get a touch. Ellis sent his header from the resulting corner into the stands.

The lively forward then had a shot deflected and there was a goalmouth scramble when Devitt fizzed the set piece low. Parkes connected with a stinging drive but it pinged around off a deflection before being hooked to safety.

The Shrimps had a big chance to pull level just after the half hour when the experienced Kevin Ellison was played clean through. With just George to beat he lost his bearings and blazed a poor effort over the bar.

Midfielder Luke Joyce scuffed an edge-of-the-box attempt straight at Nizic as the game ebbed and flowed, and Campbell had a shot from an Ellison nod down smothered with both goals coming under threat.

As they'd started the half, Carlisle ended it with another goal when Jason Kennedy marked his first start of the season with a trademark close range finish. He had plenty to do as the ball dropped out of the air but concentration and a calm head did the trick as he swept the swirling ball home.

A run from deep from Hope almost opened things up for the visitors again after the break but his cut back to Miller was stopped at source. The Blues came again and Hope looked to have found a way through, but his shot was scuffed as a tackle came in.

Debut boy James Brown showed excellent skill and a turn of pace when he left his man standing on the right flank. His cross found Devitt but it was a difficult chance and Nizic saved comfortably.

Devitt was the width of the woodwork away from scoring the goal of the game following good approach play from Miller. The forward turned his man and fed the ball across and Devitt wheeled away in frustration as his shot smashed into the post and ricocheted away to safety.

More hesitation in the Morecambe defence allowed Miller to steal possession and Adams was onto it like a flash. His cross was perfect for Miller until McGowan got back to make a vital block.

A header from a fierce corner had to be sliced behind off the line as Morecambe asked questions and Mark Ellis completed a fine recovery tackle as Deakin had the goal at his mercy when he beat George to a ball over the top. He was set to celebrate until the Carlisle man took the ball off his toes.

Nabi dinked a toe poke past the post when Adams sent him clear late in the day, and George was brave at the other end as he raced out to punch before Deakin could pull the trigger from a good cross from Muller.

Carlisle played some fantastic football as Jones, Adams, Devitt and Bennett made space for Nabi to shoot but a block in the area meant Nizic was spared any work.

George did well to deal with a deflected shot from Muller as the clock ticked down, and that was that as the visitors saw their victory out.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Hope (1), Kennedy (44)

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Bookings

Morecambe - Fleming (82)

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Teams

Morecambe - Nizic, McGowan, Winnard (c) (Deakin 60), Fleming, Campbell, Ellison (Thompson 71), Conlan (Lund 82), Wildig, Lavelle, Osborne, Muller. Subs - Roche (GK), Old, Rose, Yawson.

Carlisle United - George, Brown, Ellis, Parkes, Grainger (c), Kennedy (Adams 63), Joyce, Jones, Devitt, Hope (Bennett 69), S Miller (Nabi 69). Subs - Bacon, Liddle, Cosgrove, Lambe.

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Referee - Seb Stockbridge

Attendance - 1,228 (353 away fans)

Carlisle United Football Club

Standings

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU: Morecambe

MATCH REPORT: Morecambe 0 - 2 United