Carlisle United lost their final friendly with Dundee United, going down 2-0 at Brunton Park.
Two first-half goals earned the Scots the win which they deserved but it was Carlisle’s first defeat in a busy pre-season programme which has given plenty of food for thought for manager Paul Simpson.
He needs more fire-power up front, as this blank scoresheet demonstrated, but is hoping that this can be rectified before the season opens next Saturday.
The visitors went ahead on 32 minutes when McMann charged down a clearance from Fin Back. He was suddenly completely free and was able to turn the ball across goal for a tap-in by Lewis Moult.
The Scots doubled their lead just before half-time when a cross from Watt was headed by Alfie McCalmont but it went high in the air.
Tomas Holy came to grab it but in a pressure situation lost control and Middleton was able to fire the loose ball into the net from just outside the area.
Carlisle United – Holy, Lavelle, Huntington (c), Mellish (McGeouch 66), Back (Ellis 66), Guy (Harris 66), Moxon, Armer, McCalmont (Garner 46), Gibson, Edmondson (Charters 66). Subs – Breeze (gk), Whelan, Kilsby, Barclay.
Afterwards Simpson spoke to the club website about the signing of Republic of Ireland international Sean Maguire who has become the eighth summer recruit.
“He’s got so much ability and so much energy about him when he plays. He’s had a tough little period where he hasn’t played a lot of games, but he’s a player we’ve been talking about for weeks and weeks.
“We’ve had to be patient because at one point we couldn’t afford him, but we’ve kept nipping away and thankfully he’s in the building now. I’m looking forward to getting him working.
“He looks to be up to speed. He looks in really good physical shape. He looked sharp when he was out on the grass in this morning’s session.
“Obviously we’ll look at him when he gets in with the group on Monday, that’ll be his first bit of football with everybody else. I don’t think you play at the levels he’s played at up to at 29-years-old if you don’t do things properly. As I look at him now, I think he’s in really good shape.”
Simpson went on: “We’ve talked a lot with him and Greg has done the bulk of it. I’ve had two or three conversations with him, and I think my first conversation was the morning of the Workington game and we’ve been digging away at it since then.
“He’s going to bring experience and football nouse. He’s got a bit of sharpness about him, which I thought we lacked that right through the team today, that zip about us in the way we played.
“I’m sure Sean will certainly add to that. He is the calibre of player I want to come in, who’s going to hopefully make a difference for us in what will be a challenge of a season going up a level. I think he’ll add to us in those forward areas.
“He’s got so much about him, and I remember coming up against him as a coach. He’s horrible when he’s on the opposition side. He’s got incredible leap on him for a – I’m going to say small fella – but he’s bigger than me, so for a for a fella of his size, he gets across and he’s just got an infectious type of enthusiasm.”
The United manager is also hopeful of having two more new faces at the club on Monday.
He said: “The deals are agreed and it’s now a case of just getting them in the building, medicals done, and I fully expect them to be training with us after that.
“They’re two loans for us and I think they’re two really talented players. I’m sure they’ll add to the group, and also they might just give everybody a lift when they see some new faces come in, especially with the calibre they both are.
“We’ve had to be patient with it because these lads have been away with their own teams, Premier League, on pre-season tours, so they’re coming in fit. They’ve both had match minutes, and I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to get them done.”
