Jack the diamond blocks boss Bull
ON-LOAN keeper Jack Bonham pulled off a “wonder” save to earn Carlisle an FA Cup replay at Sheffield Wednesday.
Bonham, on a season-long spell from Brentford, produced an instinctive stop to deny Owls striker Atdhe Nuhiu.
And Wednesday’s caretaker boss Lee Bullen said: “It was a wonderful save and Carlisle defended resolutely and made it difficult for us.”
Veteran defender Clint Hill was making his 650th career appearance and played a key role in the Carlisle defence.
“You could see Clint’s experience alongside the other two central defenders,” said Bullen.
“We played some good stuff at times. The main thing is we are still in there.
“We knew we would be up against a resolute defence.”
It was Bullen’s final game before former Hertha Berlin boss Jos Luhukay takes over tomorrow.
Bullen said he had been given assurances of a new role to help the Dutchman, 54, settle in.
He added: “It will be a very interesting time for the club.
“As a coach I find it exciting to be working with different coaches and looking and learning.
“Certainly in the short term I will be there to help the new gaffer settle in.
“These guys are ready, willing and able to prove themselves to the new man.”
Carlisle manager Keith Curle revealed his players had stuck to his game plan.
He said: “It was a good cup tie. The quality of Sheffield Wednesday was evident and we had a game plan to allow them to have dominance of the ball.
“They didn’t really cause us a lot of problems and we had chances on the break including a header that was ruled out for offside.
“They were the favourites, but Bonham made a Championship-level save.
“He’s a young keeper developing.
“Everything he needed to add to his game he is gaining at Carlisle.”
Curle added: “We knew it would be difficult and we gave a disciplined performance.”