Curle likes it when Miller is so angry!
KEITH CURLE wanted to make Shaun Miller angry and it paid off a treat as the livid midfielder fired in the winner to extend Carlisle’s nine-match unbeaten league run.
Relegated to the reserves in midweek, Miller responded in style to his manager with the only goal of the game just before the hour.
And Curle revealed afterwards that it had been a deliberate tactic to get the midfielder riled up.
“A lot of people might not understand why he played in a reserve game on Tuesday,” said Curle.
“I wanted to annoy the living daylights out of him by taking him down to Oldham to play a reserve team fixture away from home.
“He was absolutely livid and he took it out in his game and showed that level of aggression I wanted from him.
“On Thursday I said your reaction on Tuesday has got you into the starting line-up on Saturday.
“If you’re not doing it I will make you do it. Some of the lads will be looking at our [reserve] fixture list.”
In a dour first 45 minutes, only Matt Bloomfield’s 39thminute shot against a post following a tidy shot on the turn in the Carlisle area set the pulses racing as Wycombe set their stall out to counter after shipping eight in their last two on the road.
Although the hosts laboured, they came out with more purpose in the second half, breaking the deadlock as Miller raced in behind to fire home.
As both sides pushed for another goal late on, Wycombe sub Scott Kashket strode into space before cutting in and hitting the post.
Despite surviving penalty calls for a trip, the home side spurned late chances of their own, Reggie Lambe striking straight at Jamal Blackman, before Tom Miller rose highest to force a smart stop from the Wycombe keeper.
Although Miller proved the difference on the scoresheet, it was referee Seb Stockbridge who denied visiting Wycombe a point, according to manager Gareth Ainsworth.
“What I am very annoyed at is with eight minutes to go, there is a stonewall penalty. I cannot believe the referee has not given a penalty,” he fumed.
“Dominic Gape is adamant, and has sworn to me in the dressing room, that he has been clipped. But the referee says no he dived, but he didn’t book him.
“What is going on? I do not know. I felt that was a terrible, terrible decision.”