Sluggish start to second half costs Robins again in Carlisle defeat
» Cheltenham Town’s long wait for a win at Carlisle continues
CHRIS Hussey powered into the penalty area in the ninth minute and saw a fierce shot turned over the bar by Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin.
It was the closest Cheltenham went to scoring during a first half in which they competed well with their promotion-chasing hosts, who were out to impress new boss Steven Pressley.
Scott Flinders had to push away a long range effort from Jamie Devitt, Tom Parkes saw a header from a corner blocked in the six yard box and there was some wayward shooting from the hosts, but Michael Duff would have been content at half-time.
For the second Saturday in succession his team were then made to pay for a sluggish start to the second period, with Carlisle 2-0 up by the 56th minute.
The opener came from the impressive Devitt after a ball in from the right was deflected to him off Ben Tozer in the 49th minute.
If there was a touch of bad fortune about the first from Cheltenham’s point of view, the second was completely avoidable.
Devitt was able to set up Hallam Hope after stealing the ball from Chris Clements and the game was suddenly beyond Cheltenham’s reach, despite a brief rally after conceding.
Carlisle had done enough to make it seven wins from their last eight and give Pressley the perfect start to his reign at Brunton Park.
Cheltenham’s 85 year wait for a win at Brunton Park continues, but far more pertinently it was their third league defeat in succession and leaves them only two points above the relegation zone with 18 to play.
» Impressive debut from Charlie Raglan
IN between Carlisle’s goals, new loan signing from Oxford United Charlie Raglan saw a shot well saved by Collin low to his left.
He did not manage to cap his debut with a goal, but it was an impressive start for the defender, who played on the right of Cheltenham’s back three and barely put a foot wrong throughout.
He was strong in air and made several important tackles, generally looking at home next to Tozer, with Craig Alcock recalled to play on the other side of the captain.
Johnny Mullins was named among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury, with Jordon Forster dropping to the bench along with Cameron Pring to facilitate Hussey’s return to left wing-back.
Will Boyle is still on his way back to fitness, while Matt Bower was left out of the match day 18 and may now need to go out on loan again in search of regular football after returning from a spell at Weston-super-mare.
Duff now has plenty of centre-half options, but on this evidence, Raglan looks capable of establishing himself in the starting XI, with the possibility of a permanent deal up for grabs if he continues to impress sufficiently between now and the end of the season.
» Much more to come from Billy Waters
WATERS was handed the first start of his second spell at Cheltenham, picked ahead of Jacob Maddox to play in an attacking role either alongside, or in support of Tyrone Barnett and Luke Varney.
He can fill any attacking role, but it was when he played as an out and out striker that he delivered his best performances for Cheltenham during the 2016/17 campaign, netting 16 times and winning all of the club’s player of the year awards before leaving to join Northampton Town, who were then in League One.
Waters struggled to make any kind of impact at Carlisle on a frustrating afternoon for the front three.
He may be playing catch-up with his match sharpness, having only started five League Two games for the Cobblers this season, as well as his overall confidence.
Waters’ game is all about energy and movement and it may take a run of games for him to start showing his top form, but he could also benefit from playing directly off one of the bigger men, with either Jacob Maddox or Kevin Dawson in the supporting role.
» Midfield strengthening vital
CHELSEA prospect Maddox has not rediscovered his sparkle since returning from a hamstring injury, which meant he had to settle for a 25 minute cameo in the second half at Carlisle, managing to force a save from Collin.
Ryan Broom made a positive return from his hamstring problem in the first half of the home defeat by Tranmere Rovers, but the right wing-back was strangely off colour on Saturday.
There has been interest in him from League One clubs, including Burton Albion, and Cheltenham may face a battle to persuade him to sign an extended deal.
They did manage to pick up some positive results over Christmas without Broom, as Conor Thomas filled in on the right, but if Cheltenham are to stay clear of the bottom two, they need Broom and Maddox back on song because they can both provide the edge Duff admitted was sorely missing at Carlisle.
Goals are proving hard to come by, but it remains likely that if Duff is going to sign one more player this month, it will be a combative midfielder.
That area has looked the primary area of concern since Nigel Atangana suffered a season ending Achilles injury at Crawley Town a fortnight ago.
When questioned about the possibility of a new face being in place before next Saturday’s home match against 23rd placed Macclesfield Town, Duff did not seem confident.
With seemingly little money left in the January transfer fund, it will be a major challenge for Duff and head of recruitment Micky Moore to ensure Cheltenham do not go into the final months of the season without strengthening in the centre of the pitch.
The club’s Football League future may depend on it.
» Potentially season-defining run of games
CHELTENHAM’S survival this season will not be determined by defeats at places like Carlisle, but they are now facing a set of fixtures when the onus will be firmly on them.
A week after Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield visit, Cheltenham play Cambridge and Yeovil at home within four days.
By the time Duff’s team travel to Colchester United on February 9, they will have a much clearer idea of how the rest of the season is likely to play out.
Nothing will have been decided by then, but ending the recent run of defeats with three positive home results will put them in a strong position to stay clear of danger.