Curle can see signs of a new Carlisle
THERE was no fairytale return to his old club for newly-appointed Carlisle boss Keith Curle, who took over the bottom-ofthe-table side 24 hours earlier.
Curle cut his managerial teeth at the Stags a decade earlier, but was unable to guide the Cumbrians to a first win in 15 matches after a first-half three-goal mauling, despite a spirited second-half fightback
Curle said: “In the firsthalf we looked shy and initimidated. It was the old Carlisle. But in the second 45 minutes we showed what the new Carlisle could be.
“At half-time I asked them to make sure they could come off the pitch at the end and look me in the eye, knowing they’d had a go. To a man they all did.
“It’s difficult. I have only been here a day and taken one training session. But there is potential. The performance in the second half will have given the travelling supporters hope for the future.”
Mansfield manager Paul Cox admitted: “Carlisle were excellent in the second half. Sometimes you have to congratulate the other team on their performance rather than pick holes in your own.
“There is some gloom and doom around the place because of the second half.We have got to enjoy winning at this football club.We are Mansfield Town not Manchester United.
“We are not always going to have it our own way. I am proud of the players’ performance and they should be proud. They need a pat on the back. The work ethic and desire of the players was immense.”
The Stags took a thirdminute lead when Lee Beevers headed Liam Marsden’s cross past the diving Mark Gillespie after Marsden’s initial long throw caused confusion in the area.
In the 37th minute the bottom club failed to deal with another Marsden long throw and the ball broke for the wing back to cross to the far post, where Rakish Bingham lashed in from six yards.
Then Beevers won possession on the edge of his area and surged to the edge of the Carlisle box, before giving transfer deadline day signing Bingham the chance to fire in his second.
Sloppy defending handed Carlisle a lifeline in the 62nd minute when half-time substitute David Amoo was allowed to score from close range.
Three minutes later Dimitar Evtimov smothered another Amoo drive.
Carlisle’s pressure was further rewarded in the 71st minute when Dempsey ran across the face of the area and scored from 16 yards, but the Stags hung on for their second win in five days.