HALLAM OFFERS HOPE TO THE CUMBRIANS AT LONG LAST...
Curle’s side hold Magpies at home
KEITH Curle feels that longawaited home win is just around the corner after seeing his Carlisle United side draw with high-flying Notts County at Brunton Park.
Hallam Hope had given the hosts the lead, but County had goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons to thank for a string of good saves before Ryan Yates’ equaliser and Curle saw plenty of positives in his side’s performance.
“The first half display was very good and we should have had more than just a one-goal lead,” he said.
“They had to change their formation to try and get into the game, they couldn’t get near us. We were moving the ball well and dominating them in midfield.
“When you’re at the top of the table, your chances go in. You have to take your chances when they come, and they didn’t create too many chances before or after the goal. That’s pleasing to see.
“We worked hard leading up to this and it’s nice to see the work on the pitch, but everyone wants that home win. In an ideal world we’d win all of our home games, but that’s not the case at the moment. If we keep playing like this, it’ll come, I’m sure of that.”
The Cumbrians had only won once at home all season before this game, and they had the better of the opening exchanges. Tom Miller had the first chance, but Fitzsimons denied him from six yards
out with a fine save.
The hosts really should have been in front on 17 minutes, but for more brilliance from Fitzsimons. Hope was slipped through on goal, but his shot was parried into the path of Reggie Lambe, who saw his diving header thwarted by the County ‘keeper.
Back came the visitors, this time Yates nearly caught Jack Bonham out, striking the post with an attempted cross.
The Cumbrians did lead on 24 minutes, and deservedly so; County failed to clear Nicky Adams’ cross, Jamie Devitt cut it back, and there was Hope to bundle in a scrappy finish from a couple of yards out.
The home side continued to dominate, Hope teeing himself up for a 20-yard volley which Fitzsimons saved comfortably. County nearly equalised just before the break, Matt Tootle’s effort forcing Bonham into a super save down to his right. The visitors dominated the second half from the off, and they were level before the hour; Terry Hawkridge drove through the midfield and slipped in Tootle, whose cut-back found the onrunning Yates who finished well. Shola Ameobi struck the post for County lateon, but despite that, manager Kevin Nolan was pleased to come away with a point after a difficult first half. “It’s a good point against a good side,” he said. “We’re delighted with it, although it could have been three because we had some good chances in the second half, which we dominated.
“Ross Fitzsimons made some fantastic saves in the first half but I think we showed them a bit too much respect and we didn't get in amongst them.
“It was a great reaction in the second half and we fully deserved to get back in to it. Even though we went 1-0 down, the players stuck in there and made it difficult for them.
“It was important to come away with something from this game.
“The most important thing after a defeat is not to lose the next one.
“We have got to respect the point because these are the ones which will mean the most if we are going to be in and around it when it comes to the business end of the season.”