Carlisle United1
Stevenage0
CARLISLE United moved back into the top half of League One and to within three points of the play-off positions with only their second home win of the season against a workmanlike Stevenage side.
However, there was still a small contingent of supporters who vented their frustrations at the final whistle following a poor run of September results which has seen the Cumbrians lose four of their six games.
Manager Greg Abbott said: “I did not hear the grumbles at the end.
“The fans around the dugout were very appreciative of the fact we had worked hard and I think most people understand this was always going to be a tough game.
“We have won two of the last three games and we can push on from here now.”
A game of little action sprung into life on 27 minutes when Liam Noble forced a diving save from Day.
Carlisle kept the pressure on from the corner and the old guard of Danny Livesey and Peter Murphy combined to put the home side in front.
Livesey said: “Murph got the goal against them in the play-off final when we came back into the Football League, so it was one of those headline moments when he popped up to put my cross away.”
Murphy said: “I know people will compare this goal to the one I scored against them in 2005, but the situations are completely different.
“This was all about three points and getting a home win under our belts, and that is all any of us were thinking about out on the pitch.
“Credit to Danny [Livesey] because it was a superb cross and all I had to do was get on the end of it and make sure it went on target.”
Cumbrians’ goalkeeper Adam Collin had nothing to do as Carlisle’s new- look 3-5-2 formation stopped the visitors in their tracks.
The game should have been wrapped up well before the tense closing stages with Francois Zoko and Jon-Paul McGovern missing gilt-edged chances with just the stopper to beat.
Abbott added: “We decided to change the formation because we felt this was the best way to take the game to this kind of opposition, “Abbott said. “They are big and physical, and they work very hard, so we wanted to get in their faces and try to get behind them.”
CARLISLE: Collin, Livesey (McGovern 63), Michalik, Murphy, Tavernier, Noble (Taiwo 87), Thirlwell, Berrett, Robson, Zoko, Loy (Curran 77). Subs (not used): Gillespie, O’Halloran.
Booked: Robson, Noble, Curran.
Goal: Murphy 27.
STEVENAGE: Day, Henry, Ashton (Shroot 55), Roberts, Laird, Wilson, Mousinho, Edwards (Long 77), Bostwick, Myrie-Williams (Madjo 46), Reid. Subs (not used): Julian, Harrison.
Referee: David Webb (Co Durham)
Attendance: 4,063
