As comfortable a 1-0 away win as you'll ever see Carlisle are relegation fodder, like us under Martin Scott hard working but no end product or quality. The way Ward set them up to play ensured it was going to be a dreadful game, he said as much on radio Cumbria after the match. Still though if we'd have even played anything like we can we could have done them 3 or 4, we were so sloppy at times they kept giving us the ball and we kept giving them it back! Joel and Browny had as bad a games as they have for a while but the difference is now is that Kyle can be a real outlet away from home. He again was a real asset. But we looked more solid, which is what we haven't been more a long time, infact they only had one chance in the entire match and that was a mistake from Collins.

Here's some ratings anyway;

ALB 7; A solid night bailed Collins out with a save with his legs and caught his crosses, still stays on his line too often for me. Had very little to do but did what he had to well though. We still need another keeper though Danny to challenge for his place.

Sweeney 7; Out of all the people experimented at right back he's the best. He's got enough pace to get away with the odd lapse defensively and does well going forward.

Humphreys 6; He was one, if not our best player on the night until they brought on a quick right winger second half. He then went on to fall on his arse a couple of times and get skinned putting us under pressure. Decent all round game though.

Collins 7; Started the game poorly losing a lot of headers but settled in well after. Carlisle's one sniff looked like a mistake by him but recovered with a great bloke after Ritchie got skinned.

Nelson 8; His most commanding game since he's had hair, two clean sheets will do him and Collins no end of good confidence wise that, after those three home games must have been at rock bottom.

Brown 6; Had a frustrating night apart from the winner seemed to get caught in possesion and was a bit indecisive in certain areas. Nearly scored a brilliant second though late on.

Jones 6; Give the ball away a little too often and it took a long time to get into the game. A good engine though, never stopped.

Clark 8; Another great performance from big Ben, he comes back into the team and we win four in a row, coincidence? Maybe but he's played very well in the last three games.

Monkhouse 6; Worked hard and slid the pass in for the goal but still a bit off his best in the last couple games.

Porter 5; Didn't have a good night at all, nothing really came off. Inexplicably tried to chip a pass to Kyle when he created a great opening for himself second half.

Kyle 7; Played like a battering ram. Won loads of headers and held the ball up admirably. People said 'we don't need Kyle' when he signed, they've been proven totally wrong his signing has been the catalyst for our best run for a long time.

Subs;


Liddle 6; Did well on the right wing late on, played one good pass across to Matty.

Robson 7; A real good outlet late on, on the break. Only a brilliant save stopped him scoring another thunderbolt. Playing with loads of confidence at the moment.

Oh and a mention for the Ref Mike Riley. Yes that damned bounder from the Premiership, he wasn't bad but he still showed some unbelievable moments of arrogance. He even gave an offside that his linesman didn't! The free kick for hand ball against Brown (which he got himself booked for dissent for) was one of the most ridiculous decisions you'll ever see on a football field. Brown had his back to Riley about five yards away and straight in front of the linesman, Riley gave the free kick the linesman didn't even budge It clearly hit his chest!

O how football is a funny game, at the time although the linesman(sorry assistant referee) didn't give the Brown "handball" at the time, and probably better placed than Riley, I thought it was, from where I was, have to see it on tv/video I may have been wrong.

Had Brown handled the ball I'm pretty certain he wouldn't have reacted like he did.