As they say, all good things come to an end eventually – so do all bad things!
For Carlisle that ended at Burton Albion where the Blues registered a 1-0 victory – to end eight straight defeats and register their first clean sheet in 28 games.
Paul Simpson’s men are still 13 points from safety, five points adrift at the foot of League One, but this long overdue win was fashioned by a fighting spirit and determination that will be needed in the remaining 12 games to have any chance of pulling off the Great Escape.
Opponents Burton were slipping to their third successive defeat without scoring and on the evidence of this will be casting anxious looks over their shoulders as the drop zone looms.
The only goal came on 27 minutes when Taylor Charters lifted a free kick into the Burton box and Sam Lavelle powered in a header – which may have actually gone in off defensive partner Paul Huntington – but Carlisle won’t care.
It was a goal and gave them something to defend in the hour plus which remained – and to that end they battled manfully.
Given the circumstances of a largely turgid contest, United won’t mind that either, as they got what they needed and deserved on the night.
Both keepers had made a couple of good saves each throughout the game – Burton’s Mac Crocombe to deny Jack Diamond on two occasions and Carlisle’s Harry Lewis to keep out efforts from John Brayford and Deji Oshilaja.
It won’t be lost on boss Simpson and his players that Saturday’s home game is against Reading – the side currently just outside the drop zone, 13 points ahead of the Cumbrians.
