MATCH PREVIEW: The Blues head to Vale Park

United face Port Vale on Saturday

8 October 2020

United and Port Vale met just once last season as the Covid-19 outbreak led to the cancellation of the April Brunton Park fixture.

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The Valiants have started this season's campaign in resolute mood having conceded just one goal in their four league games so far.

Their season started with a convincing 2-0 home win over Crawley - former-Blue Mark Cullen got both goals - and they backed that up with a solid 2-0 away victory down in Exeter.

League Two new boys Harrogate provided a stiff test when they battled out a stalemate at Vale Park at the end of last month, and Vale lost their first league game last Saturday when a late penalty from Adam Phillips earned Morecambe a 1-0 success at the Globe.

Tuesday night took them to Wigan for an EFL Trophy group game and goals from Theo Robinson [2] and Crisitano Montano had earned them the points long before the Latics bit back with a consolation goal.

Currently fifth in the table, thanks to that stubborn back line, they'll be looking to build on that and push on through the busy month ahead.

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It was a busy summer for manager John Askey as he set about consolidating his squad through what was a very tough and uncertain period.

A raft of players committed themselves to Burslem as David Amoo, Shaun Brisley, Rhys Browne, Tom Conlon, Mark Cullen, Cristiano Montano and Nathan Smith all penned new deals before the first week of July had passed.

And the flurry of activity didn't stop there. The first new summer signing was striker Devante Rodney, in from Salford on a three-year deal,

Full back Zak Mills was next, having been released by Oldham, and another Salford man was captured on a two-agreement as midfielder Danny Whitehead completed his move to Vale Park

Forward Theo Robinson headed back to his old club when Southend cancelled his contract, and defender David Fitzpatrick looked to have completed the run of signings when he agreed a deal at the end of August.

But a successful trial period for South African stopper Dino Visser was capped off with a one-year deal, and Harry McKirdy, who was with United last season, also made his trial spell count when he was offered a contract of a similar length.

who

Midfielder Luke Joyce is another player who needs no introduction having effectively started his career here in Cumbria when he joined the Blues on-loan way back in 2006 (we're making him sound really old there).

Joining the club for a second time in 2015, he made a total of 171 appearances for United and scored five goals along the way (one of which was a Sky Bet League Two goal of the month effort).

A very hard-working midfielder, he'll be looking to help his team to improve on what was a decent season last time out.

Other very familiar faces include David Amoo, Shaun Brisley, Mark Cullen and Harry McKirdy, who have all had recent spells here with us at Brunton Park.

Click HERE to purchase a match pass which will allow you to watch this game in full HD via our streaming iFollow service.

With match commentary also provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through these unprecedented behind closed doors fixtures.

Match passes are available for ALL EFL league games during this restricted attendance period. Click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

highlights

These sides met just once in the 2019/20 season as the Covid-19 outbreak wiped out their April meeting here at Brunton Park.

Vale took the honours at their place in November 2019 as Dave Worrall and Mark Cullen cancelled out a first minute strike from Ryan Loft.

Watch the highlights from that meeting here:

The last meeting between these teams prior to that was in January 2019 when United put the 10-man Valiants to the sword courtesy of a late goal from striker Connor Simpson.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

We were at Brunton Park in August 2018 when the Blues secured a 2-1 home victory. Goals either side of the break from Danny Grainger and Tom Parkes gave United a comfortable cushion, but Luke Hannant had hearts fluttering when he bagged a Valiant consolation with just two minutes left on the clock.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Back at Vale Park in March 2018 and second half goals from Ashley Nadesan and Hallam Hope handed the Blues a hard fought victory. Dior Angus had given the home side a first half lead, but Antony Kay was sent off for the hosts as tempers flared late in the game.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The Blues had made heavy weather of the game earlier in that season, just before Christmas, when they allowed Tyrone Barnett and Tom Pope to give the visitors an unexpected two-goal cushion. A late strike from Richie Bennett did little to prevent the away side from taking the spoils on the day.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - James Bell
Assistant Referee 1 - Darren Wilding
Assistant Referee 2 - Steven Plane
Fourth Official - Oliver Bickle

Our referee for this game is Mr James Bell.

This is the first time James has taken charge of a Carlisle United fixture.

He has taken charge of three games so far this season showing eight yellow cards and one red.

In the National League last season, he was the man in the middle for the August play-off final between Harrogate Town and Notts County prior to his pormotion to the league list.

tickets

This is a behind closed doors fixture.

Please see above for details on how to purchase a live streaming match pass to see all of the action via our iFollow streaming service.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Vale 0 - 1 United

From the Saturday away fixture

10 October 2020

United made the relatively short hop down the M6 for their Saturday afternoon away fixture looking to build on good performances against Barrow and Sunderland.

And manager Chris Beech made two changes to the starting eleven from last weekend, with Joe Riley and Gavin Reilly coming in for Josh Kayode (international duty with Ireland) and Ethan Walker (shoulder injury) respectively.

United had early defending to do as Vale broke down the right flank. A lobbed cross was watched closely by Hayden and he did well to get it away as he came under pressure from Pope.

Rodney had two shots blocked in quick succession when he ghosted into the area, with Vale looking to get men forward, and United responded with a quickfire move which saw Mellish pop the ball through for Reilly to strike. He caught it well but it was always rising high.

The Blues had defending to do again when Pope cushioned a clipped pass on his chest. Robinson dropped a shoulder and pulled it back but the shot from Montano was cleared before it could reach the line. The away defence closed ranks as Robinson swept a follow up punt wide of the angle of post and bar.

United stayed calm and a spin from Toure left him with a clear sight of the target. A rasping 28-yard drive had to be palmed away by Brown.

Carlisle came again with a free kick from Riley which caused all kinds of problems. Reilly took it under control and it needed another good save to prevent his short-range goal bound effort from bulging the net.

It was a good spell for the visitors and a huge kick from Farman was touched on by Reilly. He found Alessandra, who slowed things down as he waited for Mellish to arrive. It needed Legge to get a toe to it as the trigger was about to be pulled.

A hurried clearance brought a quick throw and a wonderful touch from Alessandra which saw him hook the ball over his shoulder as he left two in his wake. He was at a tight angle and his low drive was shepherded away.

The Cumbrians were dangerous with almost every delivery and Riley did well to scoop a deep cross back into the mix as he arrived late in the box. Toure jumped highest but he couldn't keep his header down.

For all of the away pressure it was Vale who should have opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Worrall brought Montano into play. His cross was perfect for Devante Rodney but he somehow guided the header wide from inside the six-yard box.

Attack was the order of the day from both sides, and Callum Guy signalled his intent as he burst through with the ball at his feet. He let fly from distance but Brown was able to watch it away.

Excellent work from Reilly saw him twist and turn on the edge of the area and his crunching cross brought a lunge from Mellish. He couldn't quite get there and the clearance was completed.

Midfielder Joe Riley picked things up and he slipped Alessandra into clear space on the right flank. A first time delivery was begging to be put away but it curled agonisingly away from the danger zone.

Mitch Clark whistled one over at the other end as he worked space from a Worrall throw, but there was a talking point on 41 minutes when Whitehead cynically scythed Gime Toure to the floor. A yellow was shown for the challenge.

The sides went into the break locked in a stalemate, but there had been plenty of action and a feeling that all that was needed was a goal for the points to be taken.

There was an early shout for a penalty from George Tanner when he was upended in the box with just 50 seconds on the second half clock, but the referee pointed to the corner quadrant as he waved the claims away.

The lively Gime Toure then bent one over after he'd fed off an Alessandra pass, but the hosts were awarded a penalty when a Worrall delivery pinged around inside the area.

A tackle from Alessandra on Worrall brought the whistle, but Farman went the right way as he made the save from Pope's spot kick. Whitehead was on the follow-up but he was thwarted by an excellent goal-saving challenge from Mellish. Hayden was also on hand to complete the clearance.

Carlisle attacked with intent as they regrouped and Toure found himself with a real opportunity. He'd stayed deep, but his crunching volley took a touch from a defender's thigh as it deflected the wrong side of the post.

Striker Gav Reilly was excellent from the corner as he shielded the ball. He somehow lost his man and the parry from his shot from Brown left Jon Mellish with the comfortable task of making it four goals from his last three games, and all in the space of a week.

The away side looked confident and Tanner brushed challenges aside as he romped into the area. The ball bounced off the keeper, then off Reilly, and Legge was relieved to be able to swipe it clear.

Neat passing from Toure and Alessandra presented Riley with a chance, but he was closed down quickly and his deflected toe poke was easy for Brown to gather.

A trademark run from Toure saw him go past three and he used Mellish as an outlet as they appraoched the edge of the area. A fizzed cross had Brown rooted to his spot but there was nobody there to finish it off.

It was Carlisle who asked the better questions, with Port Vale unable to create much in the way of chances, and some of the possession football played by the visitors was very good to watch.

Another forward movement was sparked when Alessandra showed strength inside the centre circle. He sent it onwards to Toure, and his quick feet had the Vale defence at sixes and sevens. He tried to find the top corner but it crept just past the target as he let one go from a very tight angle.

United had the chance to close the game out with three minutes left to play when a loose pass from Legge left Toure with just the stopper to beat. Brown did well to stay big and make the save as the striker bore down on him.

Vale probed as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes but Whitehead got under his shot after Worrall and Conlon had tried to work an opening.

The Cumbrians saw the game out well, and they deservedly greeted the final whistle with a collective cheer having earned their three points.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Mellish (54)

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Bookings

Port Vale - Crookes (20), Whitehead (41), Montano (90)

Carlisle United - Alessandra (41)

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Teams

Port Vale - Brown, Crookes, Legge (c), Worrall, Pope (McKirdy 60), Montano, Robinson, Clark, Whitehead, Burgess (Conlon 60), Rodney. Subs - Visser (gk), Joyce, Brisley, Fitzpatrick, Hurst.

Carlisle United - Farman, Tanner, Hayden, McDonald, Anderton (c), Riley (Malley 90), Guy, Mellish, Alessandra, Reilly (Devine 77), Toure. Subs - Norman (gk), Hunt, Armer, Furman, Bell.

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Match officials

Referee - James Bell
Assistant Referee 1 - Darren Wilding
Assistant Referee 2 - Steven Plane
Fourth Official - Oliver Bickle

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Attendance - BCD