Jon Mellish looks to continue his dominant midfield displays with the visit of Crawley Town to Brunton Park

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Jon Mellish is starting to seem his old self again after a slow start to the season, with recent performances indicating positive signs, which could trouble Crawley Town.

Last season’s top scorer for the Cumbrians has come under much criticism mainly due to struggling to find the net as often as he did during the 2020/21 campaign.

Mellish scored 16 times last season, and in the process, broke a 27-year record as he became the Blues’ highest-scoring midfielder since the 1990s.

Some parts of the Carlisle fanbase feel that when the South Shields-born midfielder is not getting on the scoresheet, then there are others more worthy of a starting spot, but much of his work often goes unnoticed.

The box-to-box midfielder often dragged the Cumbrians through difficult games to great success last season, and without his contributions, Carlise would have been 16 points worse off.

It is understandable to see why Mellish could seem naive to the casual observer, with the 24-year-old often seen chasing lost causes and leading the pressure when the opposition are in possession.

However, once the defender turned midfielder gets a foothold in a game, then he has the power and determination to turn the tide in his side’s favour with sheer brute force.

The former England C international excels at disturbing the opposition’s key midfielders, with the intense pressure he puts them under.

Mellish has got the better of some of League Two’s better midfielders, most notably Salford City’s Matty Lund and Jason Lowe.

The recently in demand Elliot Watt, who commands the centre of the park for Bradford City, was left shaken by Carlisle’s midfield destroyer last Saturday with the Cumbrians recording a 2-0 win over the Bantams.

A constant menace, Mellish bullies and harasses opponents until they make a mistake, allowing his side to gain a foothold in the match.

Crawley Town have been haunted in the past by the hard-working powerhouse, with the 24-year-old scoring the equaliser in the reverse fixture between the two sides this season.

Nick Tsaroulla had the final laugh for the Sussex side however with a flying volley late on earning his side the victory.

The Red Devils have recently set up in a 3-4-3 formation with Jack Powell and George Francomb as the two central midfielders.

Neither are particularly physical and Mellish may be able to nullify Powell’s passing threat as well as outrun the Crawley captain.

Red Devils boss John Yems talked about making the most of the trip to Carlisle and picking up an important three points.

“You don’t go up there just for the sake of having a long trip, take a few pictures of Hadrian’s Wall or whatever you do up there and come back again.

“We’re going there for three points.”

The straight-talking manager may have to decide between sticking with the current formation, which brought wins in their last three games or bringing in an extra midfielder to stop a possible overload in midfield.

If he continues with the two central players, then it could work in the Cumbrians’ favour with the likely combination of Mellish, Callum Guy and Corey Whelan, a match for most midfielders in League Two.

The Blues also have Joe Riley returning to the squad and his creativity could be allowed to flourish if Mellish gets the better of Crawley’s central pairing.

Carlisle boss Keith Millen will probably use Mellish in a free role behind the lone frontman, which is likely to be Tyrese Omotaye, and both players will be instructed to stretch the Red Devils’ back three.

Another option could see his starman used more defensively to help out Whelan and the defence to cope with the tricky Tom Nicholls, who tends to drop deep to receive the ball.

Mellish will be key if the Cumbrians are to gain revenge on their southern counterparts, whom they have a good record against being unbeaten in 15 of the 17 meetings between the two sides.

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