CURLE HAPPY TO PLAY CATCH-UP
KEITH Curle believes the season is just beginning for his Carlisle team after they swept aside high-flying Accrington Stanley to remain firmly in the League Two play-off picture.
First-half strikes from Charlie Wyke and Alex Gilliead sealed an impressive victory for the Blues, averting a dreaded ‘Cup hangover’ in the process after their fine run was ended by Everton last Sunday.
And with games in hand on most rivals, Curle is convinced that his flood-hit club can now finally start to kick on again on the pitch.
“We’ve had Everton, with the full house and the national media attention, but that’s gone now,” Curle said.
“Some sides would relax now and the season would peter out, but we won’t allow that to happen.
“We’re going to put in solid, professional performances every week and climb ourselves up that league, and we started that here.
“The lads came in in good shape at half-time, but I said to them ‘do not start to think this is over’. I know what John Coleman’s sides are like.
“We went out and continued to go toe-totoe, which is very pleasing.
“This football club is geared to go on a journey, and I want everyone at the club to buy into that and come on it with me.”
The Cumbrians were noticeably quicker out of the traps, but were dealt a bitter blow early on when captain Michael Raynes was stretchered off after an aerial challenge with Stanley ‘keeper Ross Etheridge.
The visitors showed signs of growing into the game, with Matty Pearson flashing an effort over the bar. But it was the home side who opened the scoring as defender Mark Ellis bravely knocked down a free-kick in the opposition box, and frontman Wyke calmly drilled home his first goal of 2016.
The lead was soon doubled in style after some delightful inter- play between Wyke and Newcastle loanee Gilliead ended with the latter stepping inside and stroking low past Etheridge from eight yards.
It could’ve been three as halftime approached but Alex McQueen’s over-hit cross smashed the inside of the post.
The second half was a more low-key affair, with Stanley’s best opportunity falling to Billy Kee, but he could only nod his header onto the roof of the goal.
Accrington boss John Coleman said:“I don’t like losing, but we have to lose with dignity and Carlisle were the better side.
“They cashed in on an element of luck and took their chances well, but we didn’t create nearly enough ourselves.
“It was quite feisty, and their fans enjoyed it at the end, but I hope we can have a different outcome when we meet again in ten days’ time.”