Jon Mellish was back from injury on Boxing Day to earn himself a bottle of champagne as man of the match.
Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson has spoken of the qualities he brings to the side after his display in the 1-0 win over Bradford City.
Simpson said: “He’s full of running and he causes so many problems. It gives you a real threat, because nobody knows who can pick him up. He runs with a purpose and it’s a great skill to have.
“I’ve said this many times to players that being able to run isn’t a bad trick to have. It’s really hard to deal with. Because he comes from deep areas, it causes even more panic.
“Just after I’d changed the shape to put him on Smallwood, he had one where he took it and he was gone. He pulled it back for Jordan Gibson, unfortunately Gibbo put his shot over the bar. But that’s what Jon Mellish is about.
“In the first half he was making overlaps, we had a three-v-one overload at times on the left with him, Charters and Armer, and they were causing problems. Unfortunately we weren’t clinical enough when we got those chances to really take the game away from Bradford.”
His other asset, much used already this season, is the fact that he’s versatile and able to switch roles within games, often at the drop of a hat.
The manager went on: “There were spells in the second half where I felt as though we were losing it too much.
“I was comfortable with where they were having the ball, with us dropping in deep, but they were getting it in more dangerous areas after the break.
“I wanted Mellish to sit on Smallwood because Hunts and Morgan were coping with Andy Cook okay. It worked and we started to get more of a foothold.
“When Mellish went on his run as soon as I changed it – if he’d scored from that I think I’d have just walked down the tunnel, because that would have been perfect.
“With his left foot he gives you that balance on that flank. Along with, what’s the word, unpredictability – because I’m not sure he knows what he’s up to sometimes.
“You do miss him when he’s not there because he’s a good player. In any side, if there’s a player who gives you balance, and this isn’t in any way disrespectful to Corey, who has done such a good job – but I like to have left-footed players out on that wing.
“Whatever role or position, I like the balance that having a player who can use that foot brings. Mells does that for us. Like I say, there are so many times when I don’t know what he’s going to do, and I don’t think he does either, but he’s good at it.
“He causes so many problems and he’s prepared to run past people. He was cramping up at the end, but he carries on anyway. That’s his personality and you need that in the group.”
