14th SeptemberCarlisle United 1 Attendance: 4,863)
Long, McMahon, Hill, Maguire, Collins, McGinn (McFadzean 61), Doyle, Westlake (Bunn 76), Cuvelier, Baxter, Ironside (Taylor 61).
Unused: Howard, Coady, McGinty, Eyre.
Booked: Maguire 53, McFadzean 64.
Man Of The Match: Jose Baxter.
: Gillespie, Robson, Amoo, Noble (Potts 88), Miller (Beck 84), Thirlwell, Berrett, O'Hanlon, Guy (Townsend 32), Archibald-Henville, McSweeney.
Unused: Livesey, Gillies, Symington, Fleming.
Booked: Noble 55, Berrett 70, Miller 83, Townsend 90+5.
Scorer: Robson 54.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).
Carlisle caretaker-boss Graham Kavanagh picked up a win in his first game in charge as the Cambrians beat Sheffield United 1-0 at Brunton Park.
Manager David Weir made four changes to his side. George Long returned back in goal, Stephen McGinn came in for Conor Coady. Darryl Westlake was preferred to Ryan Flynn on the right wing and Joe ironside replaced Chris Porter as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
After a slow start it needed a set piece from Matt Robson to create the first opening of the game. Lee Miller nodded it down and Liam Noble was frustrated when he tried a volley from the edge of the area which spun harmlessly away. A long ball forward was well controlled by David Amoo as Carlisle started to settle and quick feet took him past a challenge from Neill Collins tight by the corner flag. A run into the box was followed by a side-footed cross which was just too close to Long.
The Cumbrians had a dubious shout for a penalty turned down when Lewis Guy beat the onrushing keeper to a loose ball in the area. A collision followed but the officials waved the appeals away despite shouts from the home fans and the Carlisle manager on the touchline.
The Blades registered their first effort on target on 21 minutes when a Jose Baxter corner found Collins unmarked just 6 yards out. The Blades defender should have done better and he wheeled away in disgust as his header dropped onto the roof of the net. The Blades were comfortable in defensive positions, but passing soon broke down in a congested midfield. A good spell followed for Weirs' men and a in-swinging cross from Baxter was well cleared by Matty Robson at the far post. Tony McMahon recovered the ball but could not find Ironside as the striker moved cleverly and called for the ball.
Then a charged down Leon McSweeney clearance gave Ironside unexpected possession, He laid it off for McGinn to pounce and his curler needed a block from defender Sean O’Hanlon.At the other end, Robson tried his luck from distance with a first time shot but Michael Doyle blocked and the ball spun away for a corner.
Troy Archibald-Henville nodded over when James Berrett floated it in and Miller had the last say of the half when he turned quickly on a well controlled throw in. He connected well but goalie Long was well-placed to grasp it.
Carlisle winger Robson burst towards the Blades goal from deep, at pace, to take the attack to The Blades in the first meaningful moment of the second half. Maguire stopped him in his tracks, at the expense of a yellow card, and it was Robson who forced a diving save from Long.
A teasing Berrett corner brought mass confusion and it was Robson who pounced to connect with a header which angled towards the back of the net. The assistant referee immediately signalled that it had crossed the line and the celebrations eventually followed. The Blades still played calmly in their own half passing around, but as soon as the ball went into midfield play the passing broke down.
Thirlwell scuffed a half-volley right at Long as the Cumbrians pressed on but they were opened up on 67 minutes when Taylor back-heeled the ball into McMahon’s path. The Blades full-back tried to pick his spot but goalkeeper Mark Gillespie had it covered.
The Blades should have levelled the scores when Westlake made it to the by-line and picked a beautiful low cross across the face of goal. All it needed was a touch but Florent Cuvelier and Lyle Taylor were too far off the play and the ball skipped harmlessly away.And substitute Callum McFadzean did the hard work moments later when he weaved his way past McSweeney and into the channel. His excellent cutback found Doyle but he brought groans as he blazed his effort over the bar.
Gillespie saved late from a Cuvelier thunderbolt as the Carlisle continued to hunt in packs and Archibald-Henville headed over on the run at the other end as the home side tried to kill the game off. McSweeney pushed forward and ran past two in another late foray but his delivery clipped Maguire and went into the side netting. Gillespie saved another from Cuvelier in an end-to-end finish and Amoo had the last chance of the day when he arrowed a firm shot right at George Long.
But Carlisle held on for their first home clean sheet of the season, while the Blades need to take a serious look at themselves after this woeful display.
The Blades manager seems mindset on trying to play this passing football with only one striker, and it is just not working or the players do not have the knowhow to make it work. The lone striker is completely isolated and attacks regularly breakdown before they reach the final third. Surely they now need to switch to a 4-4-2 with a more direct approach with 2 strikers up front – we need goals. Today’s defeat drops the Blades to their lowest league position for over 30 years.
Long 6, McMahon 6, Hill 6, Maguire 6, Collins 6, McGinn 6, McFadzean 7, Doyle 5, Westlake 6, Bunn 6, Cuvelier 6, Baxter 7, Ironside 6, Taylor 6.
7th SeptemberAttendance: 11,758)
Howard, McMahon, Hill, Maguire, Collins, Flynn (Bunn 69), Doyle, Coady, Baxter, Cuvelier, Porter (Taylor 69).
Unused: Willis, Westlake, McGinn, Ironside, McFadzean.
Booked: McMahon 83, Bunn 90.
Scorer: Baxter 37.
Man Of The Match: Neill Collins.
: Shearer, Brindley, Skarz, Davis, Mills, Frecklington, Revell, Milsom, Pringle, Morgan (Nardiello 45), Agard.
Unused: Hylton, Tubbs, Collin, Tidser, Rowe.
Booked: Morgan 14, Agard 53.
Scorers: Agard 51, Nardiello 72 (pen), Milsom 75.
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex
).
Rotherham United won the battle of South Yorkshire as they came from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-1 at New York Stadium.
The Blades led at the break thanks to a first goal from Jose Baxter, but three second-half goals from the hosts stunned David Weir's side on the day new owner Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud outlined his ambitious plans.
Tony McMahon served up an early scare for the Millers when he smacked a third-minute free-kick against the crossbar, but the hosts should have led after 10 minutes.
Lee Frecklington burst through the middle yet he scuffed his shot and Mark Howard saved easily then Rob Milsom headed wide from Frecklington's cross.
The breakthrough came nine minutes before the break as Baxter got the ball from a throw-in, turned his man and fired across goal, his shot creeping in on the far post.
However, the home side equalised six minutes after the re-start. A long goal-kick was headed down on the edge of the area and Kieran Agard turned on the loose ball and fired an unstoppable shot past Howard.
Two more goals from the Millers followed in the space of four minutes to turn the game on its head.
Substitute Daniel Nardiello was upended by McMahon after 71 minutes and referee Andy D'Urso immediately pointed to the spot with Nardiello duly obliging to convert.
Four minutes later Rotherham won the ball on the edge of the area, Alex Revell fed Milsom and this time the latter made no mistake by driving home under the diving Howard.
Howard 6, McMahon 5, Hill 5, Maguire 5, Collins 6, Flynn 5, Bunn 5, Doyle 5, Coady 5, Baxter 6, Cuvelier 5, Porter 6, Taylor 6.
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