Classy Cambridge expose Carlisle’s fragile defence

Having not won on the opening day since 2015/16, Cambridge United were finally able to start off a season with three points after an emphatic win over Carlisle United at The Abbey.

With both sides heading into their seventh consecutive League Two season, the U’s and the Cumbrians looked equally matched going into their opening day clash – many tipping the away side to come away with the three points. But those who did would’ve been shocked to see Cambridge run rampant and expose a lacklustre Carlisle defence.

Just under ten minutes in, Carlisle were punished for their high defensive line and caught completely cold. A long ball from the back found the head of striker Joe Ironside, who was able to flick the ball on to an unmarked Luke Hannant. The winger was free to race down the exposed left flank and dink the ball over Paul Farman to give Cambridge the lead.

It took just over five minutes for the U’s to make Carlisle pay again. Paul Digby was able to send Kyle Knoyle racing down the right flank, where unmarked he was able to bend in a superb cross to new signing Paul Mullin. The former Tranmere Rovers forward powered a bullet header past Farman, who was once again furious with the position his defence had left him in.

A first half injury to Liam O’Neil saw him replaced by Adam May, who joined the U’s last week following a successful trial period. The balance of the game subsequently shifted, allowing Carlisle to come right back into the game. Cambridge lost their structure and organisation as the Cumbrians piled on the pressure. The ball landed on the left flank at the feet of Gime Touré, who cut inside and breezed past Paul Digby, before curving his shot inches past Dimitar Mitov’s goal.

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As the game evened out, things threatened to boil over very quickly. Paul Digby grabbed hold of Carlisle’s Omari Patrick, seemingly out of nothing, before a confrontation broke out and the two had to be separated. Digby, not satisfied with going after the Carlisle striker, went after the rest of his teammates as he was forcibly removed from the scuffle. Both he and Patrick were booked as the game got back underway.

The intense midfield battle slowly cooled, with Cambridge happy to sit on their two-goal lead and Carlisle incapable of breaking them down. Another inexplicable lapse in concentration eventually cost Chris Beech’s side a third goal. A lacklustre clearance from the Cumbrians landed at Luke Hannant, who once again released Kyle Knoyle down the right flank. The U’s right-back cut inside to find Joe Ironside, who flicked the ball past Farman to add a goal to his earlier assist and cap off a superb debut.

The opening day demolition of their northern opposition adds to Cambridge’s superb start to the season. The U’s nullified Championship side Birmingham City in a shock 1-0 win in the Carabao Cup at St Andrew’s, before brushing aside Fulham U21’s 2-0 in the Leasing.com Trophy. Having won all three of their competitive games so far, Mark Bonner’s side have scored six goals and are yet to concede.

Cambridge fans have to be careful, however. Colin Calderwood led the U’s to a superb start last season, sitting in the automatic promotion places at the end of August, but ended up winning just five games between September and his sacking in late January. Mark Bonner’s just will be to maintain his incredible start to his managerial reign, having lost just two competitive games since taking over in February.

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Chris Beech may have a much harder job to stabilise Carlisle. The Cumbrians have suffered three competitive defeats in the space of a week, losing 3-0 to Oldham in the Carabao Cup and 3-1 at home to Fleetwood in the Leasing.com Trophy. They are, however, a club in transition, struggling to deal with the overwhelming influx of players in the summer transfer window.

Sorting out the basics will be the priority for Carlisle, who many tipped to push for the playoffs in pre-season. Beech’s side left huge gaps in their defence which Cambridge brutally exploited and seemed incapable of being able to man-mark when the ball came into the box. Once their defensive woes have been sorted, they can focus on putting away one of the 19 shots they had against the U’s, as they mustered only one on target.

Patience is key, however. Chris Beech took over at Brunton Park last November with the club hovering dangerously above the relegation zone. He must be given time to rebuild the squad and slowly introduce his new signings to how he wants to play. It may be a season for transition of progression, rather than overreacting to their poor start.

Cambridge United head to Newport County on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup, before travelling to Morecambe in League Two next Saturday in search of continuing their winning form. Carlisle aren’t involved in midweek cup action but have their chance to redeem themselves at Brunton Park next weekend against the only side to suffer a heavier defeat than them on the opening day, Southend United.

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