Carlisle United

Yeovil 2-1 Carlisle
Ishmael Welsh scored on his Yeovil debut to condemn Carlisle to their first defeat since promotion. Yeovil took the lead in an entertaining game when Carlisle failed to cut out a free kick from Nathan Jones and Chris Cohen nipped in to head home. The lead was shortlived, and six minutes later former Yeovil man Kevin Gall converted Michael Bridges' pass. Welsh put Yeovil back in front shortly before half-time, turning and firing in a snapshot from the edge of the box. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yeovil: Mildenhall, Jones, Skiverton, Forbes, Lindegaard, Welsh, Terry (Kamudimba 65), Cohen, Poole (Davies 81), Gray, James (Harrold 74). Subs Not Used: Guyett, Morris. Goals: Cohen 16, Welsh 42. Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Lumsdon, Paul Murray (Holmes 77), Billy (Hackney 66), Gall, Hawley, Bridges. Subs Not Used: Williams, McDermott, Arnison. Goals: Gall 23. Att: 4,709 Ref: P Crossley (Kent).

Carlisle v Leyton Orient
Carlisle boss Neil McDonald has a full-strength squad to choose from and is set to name the same XI for the fourth successive game. Adam Murray will play no part after he handing in a transfer request. Leyton Orient hope to have Adam Tann and Lee Steele available for the trip to Carlisle. Defender Tann and forward Steele did not train during the early part of the week because of thigh problems and will be given time to prove their fitness.

Carlisle 3-1 Leyton Orient
Carlisle swept to a stylish victory over Leyton Orient, as Michael Bridges caught the eye at Brunton Park. Bridges' clever pass put Kevin Gall clear on 24 minutes, and the striker finished well with a curling effort. Karl Hawley grabbed his first of the season on 49 minutes after latching onto Gall's pass. Gall claimed his second with a low finish after another superb Bridges pass, while Lee Steele's 68th-minute goal for Orient was mere consolation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Gray (Arnison 26), Murphy, Aranalde, Paul Murray, Billy, Lumsdon (McDermott 69), Gall, Hawley, Bridges (Holmes 79). Subs Not Used: Williams, Hackney. Goals: Gall 24, Hawley 49, Gall 59. Leyton Orient: Garner, Tann (Barnard 65), Mackie, Fortune, Lockwood, Tudor, Easton, Simpson, Keith (Corden 64), Alexander (Ibehre 66), Steele. Subs Not Used: Morris, Connor. Booked: Easton, Alexander. Goals: Steele 68. Att: 7,160 Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Carlisle 1-1 Bradford (aet)
Carlisle won 4-3 on pens Zigor Aranalde scored the winner as Carlisle beat Bradford 4-3 on penalties in the Carling Cup first round. Carlisle had taken the lead when Derek Holmes slotted in at the second attempt before a floodlight failure. Eddie Johnson levelled for Bradford when keeper Anthony Williams let his shot slip through his grasp. Peter Murphy failed to convert a Carlisle spot-kick in the shoot-out but misses from Alan Rogers and Dean Windass proved costly for Bradford.

Oldham 0-0 Carlisle
A superb defensive display helped 10-man Oldham move out of the bottom four after a battling goalless draw against Carlisle. The home side had the better early chances but a Lewis Grabban shot was well saved while Will Haining's effort came back off the post. But the game changed after loan keeper David Knight was dismissed on 38 minutes for handling outside the box. Carlisle pushed for the winner after the break but Oldham held on. Oldham: Knight, Eardley, Haining, Stam, Charlton, Wellens, McDonald, Edwards (Taylor 60), Warne (Smith 40), Grabban (Molango 82), Liddell. Subs Not Used: Wood, Rocastle. Sent Off: Knight (39). Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Lumsdon, Paul Murray, Hackney, Gall, Bridges, Hawley. Subs Not Used: Williams, Livesey, Joyce, Grand, Arnison. Booked: Raven, Gray, Murphy. Att: 6,080 Ref: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Murray extends loan at Stockport
Carlisle forward Glenn Murray will stay on loan at Stockport for another month after enjoying a successful first four weeks at the club. However, the 22-year-old, who has scored once in his five appearances for County, has been placed on a 24-hour recall in case Carlisle need him. Carlisle boss Neil McDonald told the club's website: \"Glenn will do a second month there, which is good for him. \"We can bring him back anytime, but it is important he gets games right now.\"

Carlisle's Murray joins Torquay
Torquay have signed 25-year-old Carlisle midfielder Adam Murray. The former Derby player, who requested a transfer during pre-season and has not featured for Neil McDonald's team this season, cost the Gulls £10,000. \"I must admit I'm surprised that the chairman has stuck his neck out financially,\" Torquay boss Ian Atkins told the club's website. \"But Adam will make a big difference to us. He has played at a high level and the quality will show on the pitch.\" The midfielder has been at Brunton Park since March 2005 and has also had spells with Mansfield, Kidderminster, Notts County and Burton Albion.

Carlisle 2-0 Cheltenham
Carlisle eased past Cheltenham with a dominant display at Brunton Park. Kevin Gall had an early chance for the home side before he finished off a sweeping three-man move to head in Simon Hackney's cross from six yards. The impressive Karl Hawley grabbed the second goal on the stroke of half-time, shooting in after Chris Lumsdon's pass. Derek Holmes wasted a great chance to make it 3-0 while John Melligan and Gavin Caines were denied by Cumbrians keeper Keiren Westwood late on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Murphy, Gray, Aranalde, Murray, Lumsdon, Hackney (Joyce 85), Hawley, Holmes, Gall. Subs Not Used: Williams, Livesey, Arnison, Hindmarch. Booked: Murphy. Goals: Gall 27, Hawley 45. Cheltenham: Higgs, Gill, Caines, Victory, Bell (Yao 45), Melligan, Finnigan, Connolly (Wylde 45), Armstrong, Guinan, Odejayi. Subs Not Used: Brown, Gallinagh, Foley. Att: 7,248 Ref: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).

McDonald enjoying happy deal
Mention Carlisle United and three episodes in the club's recent history are likely to spring to mind. The first is the tenure of former chairman Michael Knighton. He claimed the Cumbrians would one day win the European Cup before revealing both he and his wife had close encounters with a UFO. The second is the injury-time winner scored by goalkeeper Jimmy Glass against Plymouth that saved the club from relegation to the Conference, in the 1998-1999 season. The third, arguably, is Carlisle's recent promotion to League One, under the guidance of former boss Paul Simpson. The latter was a tremendous achievement considering the Brunton Park side had only just regained their League status the previous season. Simpson left to take up a new challenge at Preston leaving the way clear for Neil McDonald, who was a former apprentice at Carlisle. \"When I first started out as a player, I used to go to different clubs on trial,\" the 40-year-old Geordie told Sir Stanley. \"I eventually went to Carlisle, where former Newcastle captain Bob Moncur was the manager and he wanted to start a youth system. \"Moncur left for Hearts and Bobby Stokoe came in. The new gaffer seemed to have reputation of wanting older players, so I packed my bags and went to Newcastle.\" McDonald made almost 200 appearances for the Magpies between 1983 and 1988, before moving on to Everton, Oldham, Bolton and Preston. His coaching CV includes a six-year stint as first-team coach at Bolton followed by a shorter term as assistant to Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace. The offer from Carlisle came his way in the summer and McDonald was eager not to let this first opportunity to manage a team slip by. \"It was unusual to be be offered a job at a club that was on the up following two successive promotions,\" he added. \"Those chances don't come round too often.\" McDonald was also delighted with his players' attitude after they returned from their summer break and is adamant Carlisle's current top-six placing owes a lot to the squad's determination to continue where they left off last season. \"The players were fit, fresh and hungry. I said to them 'I'm new and I'll give everybody a chance', even though I knew I needed to strengthen the squad,\" said the former midfielder. \"To their credit they've taken everything on board and that positive attitude has been reflected in the start we've had.\" McDonald, who lost striker Michael Bridges to Hull in August, has been relatively quiet during the recent flurry of transfer activity in the English leagues, but that has not been down to a lack of trying. \"My phone bill tells me I've been very active in the market,\" he said. \"It's not easy trying sign players. But we're hoping in the next few weeks we can bring in a couple. The squad is thin, but we've done very well so far with the players we have.\" So does McDonald think the club can make it a hat-trick of promotions this season? \"The club's aim is to survive. It sounds strange to say that considering the start we've had. However, I do think we should aim a little bit higher,\" he said. \"It's silly to say we're going to get promotion. But if we continue to build on our start then that will do me.\"

Carlisle to sign Derby midfielder
Carlisle are set to land midfielder Paul Thirlwell on a three-month loan from Championship side Derby. Carlisle boss Neil McDonald believes the signing of the 27-year-old will provide his side with added experience. \"This is a player who has played at a decent level for a number of years and he will be an excellent addition,\" McDonald told the club's website. \"We are looking forward to working with him and we're sure that this will be a good move, both for him and Carlisle.\"

Carlisle 1-1 Northampton
Karl Hawley's equaliser earned Carlisle a point against Northampton, who maintained their unbeaten away record. Carlisle were rocked by a defensive mistake a minute after half-time which allowed Scott McGleish to steal in and grab the lead for the visitors. Carlisle levelled after 57 minutes when Simon Hackney and Paul Murray combined and Hawley struck from eight yards. Hawley shot over and Chris Lumsdon sent a free header at the keeper as the Cumbrians wasted late chances. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Murray, Lumsdon, Hackney (Hindmarch 86), Gall, Holmes (Thirlwell 54), Hawley. Subs Not Used: Williams, Livesey, Arnison. Booked: Murphy. Goals: Hawley 56. Northampton: Bunn, Chambers, Doig, Dyche, Crowe, Watt (Bojic 62), Taylor, Burnell, Aiston (Gilligan 45), Kirk (Quinn 75), McGleish. Subs Not Used: Harper, Brett Johnson. Goals: McGleish 47. Att: 7,602 Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).

Bradford v Carlisle
Dean Windass (calf) and Lee Holmes (ankle) are both big doubts for Bradford's match with Carlisle. On-loan David Graham and Joe Colbeck will start against Carlisle if Windass and Holmes fail to make it. Carlisle boss Neil McDonald boasts a fully-fit squad for the trip across to Valley Parade. Chris Billy has been passed fit after a groin strain while fellow midfielder Neale McDermott is also available after an ankle strain.

Bradford 1-1 Carlisle
Chris Lumsdon earned Carlisle a point away at Bradford after Dean Windass had given the Bantams a first-half lead. Windass opened the scoring with a superb shot from the edge of the box after seizing on David Raven's header. But Carlisle levelled when Kevin Gall's shot was deflected in by Lumsdon, wrong-footing Donovan Ricketts. Both sides came close to winning it, Carlisle keeper Kieran Westwood saving from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Ricketts stopping Zigor Aranalde's late header. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bradford: Ricketts, Doyle, Wetherall, Bower, Parker (Colbeck 56), Schumacher, Bridge-Wilkinson, Eddie Johnson (Graham 73), Rogers, Jermaine Johnson, Windass. Subs Not Used: Saynor, Edghill, Clarke. Booked: Parker, Rogers. Goals: Windass 21. Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Murphy, Livesey, Aranalde, Thirlwell, Lumsdon, Gall, Murray, Hawley, Holmes (Hindmarch 90). Subs Not Used: Williams, Arnison, McDermott, Billy. Booked: Lumsdon, Aranalde, Raven. Goals: Lumsdon 50. Att: 7,966 Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Nottm Forest v Carlisle
Nottingham Forest hope defender John Curtis will recover from a hamstring problem, but centre-back Danny Cullip misses out due to his thigh injury. Kris Commons could be handed a place on the bench and Junior Agogo may get his first start for the League One leaders. Fit-again Carlisle midfielder Chris Billy is pushing for a return after five games out with a groin problem. On-loan Derby midfielder Paul Thirlwell could be replaced as the Cumbrians go to Forest with a fully-fit squad.

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