DREAM WEEK FOR KEITH’S TROOPS
THIS week couldn’t have panned out any better for Carlisle, as Keith Curle’s side rounded it off by absorbing all the pressure Wycombe threw at them to claim another vital three points in their promotion push.
The Cumbrians followed up Tuesday night’s defeat of leaders Doncaster by clinically responding to Adebayo Akinfenwa’s early opener and extending their advantage over fourth-placed Luton to a healthy five points.
In contrast, Wycombe have now lost their last three games, but this was a much more positive performance from them and they caused the visitors plenty of problems.
Carlisle manager Curle, who was incredulous at being sent from the dugout late on, said: “Wycombe try and find out who’s not going to be up for the challenge, who’s not going to be brave enough to put their head where it matters.
“After 45 minutes, you go in 2-1 up and what we said to the players was ‘don’t expect anything different’.
“If anything, what you’ve got to expect in the second half is more of the same and you’ve got to be able to stand up to it and withstand it.
“I thought Shaun Brisley and Michael Raynes were exceptional – they dealt with the threat that they had, they were brave, honest and very willing.” Wycombe got off to the perfect start in the second minute, as Anthony Stewart played the ball into the danger area and Akinfenwa glanced into the bottom corner.
But Carlisle quickly hit back when Jamie Proctor was found in space by Reggie Lambe and the on-loan Bolton striker picked his spot from the edge of the area.
Route one then led to the Cumbrians taking the lead on 34 minutes, as Mark Gillespie’s free-kick was flicked on by Proctor and Lambe was able to poke the ball in.
Gillespie made a fine save from Sam Saunders’ curler to preserve his side’s lead before Akinfenwa’s header from Blackman’s long ball hit the post six minutes after the restart.
Alex Jakubiak’s powerful strike then forced another good stop out of Gillespie and Paris Cowan-Hall wasted a great chance for Wycombe, who couldn’t find an equaliser.
Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “They were poor goals [to concede] and lately we’ve just shipped one or two easy goals and we need to tighten up.
“The easy thing is I know what I’ll be working on on Monday; a little bit of finishing and a little bit of defending.
“I thought we were the better team but the goals against were sloppy goals to concede as an 11 and, in private, we’ll put that right.
“I think 95 per cent we’ve got right here but to go up to the other end, we’ve missed a couple of one-on-ones where you’ve got to hit the target.”