The path of academy football can be treacherous, and many promising young prospects get left in the wake for many reasons.
Making the transition from academy football to the senior game can be a challenging proposition, particularly with the growing sanitisation of youth development.
In the early 2010s, whilst living in Southampton, Simeu played for local Sunday League side Chamberlayne Athletic, transitioning from mini soccer to 11-a-side with the club.
The first thing that stood out about him was his sheer hunger and desire to do everything he could for his team.
There were times when his age group team often had to play with limited numbers against eleven due to lack of availability.
The side would lose many games by heavy scorelines, but this did not alter Simeu’s sheer determination to do his best.
Often appearing in midfield, he proved to be combative and near impossible to beat while possessing great leadership qualities.
Simeu was spotted by a scout for Chelsea and was offered an opportunity to trial for the club’s academy.
Simeu signed his first contract for Chelsea in 2015 and subsequently started his journey through the age groups.
He quickly impressed many at Cobham, so much so that he was handed an Under 18’s debut aged just 15 and became a regular.
Another signifier of his success was his first England age group call up, where he would make a total of six appearances for the under 17 and under 18 teams respectively.
Following his success since arriving at the Blues, Simeu played his first-ever official senior game, playing for the Chelsea academy side away at Bristol Rovers in the Football League Trophy.
During that season, Simeu made the transition to the under 23’s, where he made six appearances and helped the side lift the Premier League 2 title.
He featured in Chelsea’s run to the FA Youth Cup final, where they would eventually lose out to Manchester City.
Simeu was named in Chelsea’s senior squad for their Last 16-second leg tie away at eventual champions Bayern Munich.
Whilst Simeu would not feature, it was an experience that will have surely put all the years of hard work into perspective.
Sitting in the Allianz Arena as part of a squad playing in the Champions League, there was likely a hark back to the humble beginnings of Sunday League hammerings with Chamberlayne Athletic.
The effects of the pandemic certainly did not seem to stunt Simeu’s progress, becoming a mainstay in the Chelsea under 23 setup, and going on to captain the team throughout the Premier League 2 season.
Each season seemed to include a landmark achievement as a symbol of how Simeu was improving game by game, and if captaining the most competitive youth setup in the country at just 18 was not enough, he went on to score his first senior goal in the EFL Trophy.
After six years at Chelsea, Simeu was offered a contract renewal that would likely see him stay in the youth setup and go on loan to find a first-team pathway.
However, Simeu decided to reject a new contract at Chelsea and thus left the club that summer returning home to Southampton.
A move back home as well as a well-established first-team pathway for academy players were key factors in persuading Simeu to make the switch.
Whilst Simeu was initially placed in the B team setup, the pathway to the first team has been made very clear to the youngster, and he has had many training sessions with the senior squad.
He made his full B team debut for Southampton in a 3-0 home loss to Norwich City U23 in the Premier League 2 Group 2.
Simeu also got his first taste of senior football, donning the Southampton colours playing for the under 21 side in the Football League Trophy away at Leyton Orient and Charlton Athletic.
The Cameroon-born defender scored his first goal for the B team against Newcastle United.
He was involved in Premier League and FA Cup squads for the first time, sixteen months after his appearance on the bench for Chelsea in the Champions League.
Unfortunately, Simeu once again did not feature.
The former Carlisle United manager Keith Millen made Simeu his top January target to help the Cumbrians in their battle to avoid the drop.
Millen twice made the 337-mile trip down to Southampton to watch the talented defender.
The Croydon coach revealed the lengths he went to obtain his ‘number one target’.
He said:
“I’ve driven down to Southampton twice to watch him play, and I met him again on Sunday.
“I’ve done a lot of hours on this deal, and I have to say Southampton have been good and have kept us updated all the way through.”
There were initial complications with this loan deal surrounding an ever-growing absentee list for Southampton’s first team, so the Saints were reluctant to let him go out on loan due to a shortage of senior Centre Backs.
Southampton’s first-team squad made a recovery, and Simeu was given the all-clear to head out on loan and gain some valuable first-team experience.
This would be the defender’s first taste of fully-fledged men’s football and provide him with a great learning environment to make the difficult transition from academy football to the senior game.
To say Simeu’s start to life at the Blues was worrying may be a slight understatement as he was part of a defence that conceded nine times in his first five games.
The step-up seemed too much for the Saints’ defensive prospect and questions were raised over his capabilities.
Positionally Simeu seemed suspect, leaving gaping holes for the opposition to expose.
In all fairness, United were a mess, with a three-nil loss at home to Swindon Town signalling the end of Millen’s time at the club.
Local hero Paul Simpson returned to the club and had an instant impact, winning four games in a row, with Simeu improving under his guidance.
Loanees can often go two ways; some are there to boost their image at their current club, but Simeu’s case is very different.
The strong centre back can often be seen igniting the crowd with arm gestures and receiving a roar of appreciation in return.
After a period of looking uncomfortable against seasoned League Two strikers, Simeu’s attributes started to shine through.
Physicality and aggression can sometimes go missing when Premier League youngsters drop down the divisions, but this was never an issue for the 20-year-old.
Timing and precision were a problem, but since Simpson’s arrival, Simeu has proven why Southampton paid Chelsea £1.3 million for his services.
His athleticism makes him incredibly hard to beat in a foot race, and his composure on the ball has seen the nailing down of a place on the right of a back three.
Simeu has twice won the ‘man of the match’ award with excellent defensive displays at home to Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers.
Time after time, many warn against the dangers of falling in love with a loan player, but it seems that the Cumbrians’ support cannot resist Simeu’s infectious personality.
The big-hearted defender has been a credit to himself, whether it is interacting with fans after the game or stepping up to make visits to schools: Simeu has been brilliant on and off the pitch.
It is refreshing to see a loanee become so interested in his temporary club’s culture when others fail to embrace their temporary home.
With the heart of a lion, and the mentality of a warrior, Simeu has it all, and his time at Carlisle United is just the embryonic stage of the road to something special.
Written by Ben Pitkeathly and Kieran Gallop
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]]>The Gills had a game plan to keep them competitive against one of the current strongest home sides in the EFL in Stanley, who were unbeaten in nine and had won the last four fixtures at the Wham Stadium.
Often a fair bit of grit and determination is needed when attempting to escape the drop, and Harris has simplified tactics to make Gillingham more effective.
One aspect that troubled the Stanley defence throughout the afternoon was Ryan Jackson’s rocket of a long throw.
Throw-ins near the Accrington box quickly became as dangerous as a corner, with the Gills striker Vadaine Oliver winning most of the first contact when Jackson launched the ball from the touchline.
Oliver is no stranger to the North-West, having spent two seasons with Morecambe between 2017 and 2019.
The six-foot-two target man is the perfect striker to have in a relegation dogfight, with his ability to battle for scraps and strength to hold up play to the Gills’ advantage.
It only took four minutes for a Jackson throw to put the home side under pressure, with Oliver knocking the ball down to Ben Thompson, who managed to return the ball to the forward, but the 30-year-old failed to hit the target.
The game lacked any rhythm, and it took until the 30th minute for Stanley to have their first real chance of the game when Mitch Clarke bundled his way into the Gills penalty area but failed to find the bottom corner of Aaron Chapman’s goal.
Quality was lacking, and the best move of the first half turned out to be offside after Thompson broke through the Accrington Midfield and found Charlie Kelman, who was denied by a desperate lunge from Michael Nottingham, with the flag then raised.
John Coleman’s Stanley were much improved at the beginning of the second half. Colby Bishop almost sent the Accrington faithful into delirium when his acrobatic effort had to be palmed over the bar by Chapman.
Korede Adeoyin had an excellent chance to put the home side in front in the 52nd minute when he went through on goal, but an inspired Chapman denied him.
There is some suggestion that Accrington should have been awarded a goal in the 56th minute when Chapman seemed to have made a stunning save to deny Harry Pell from heading the hosts into the lead.
There was a suggestion of whether the ball was over the line before the Gills stopper made the save, which Coleman reflected on during his post-match interview.
He said:
“Chapy’s (Aaron Chapman) said the one he’s clawed out is comfortably over the line.
“All our players think it is.”
With Accrington increasing the pressure, it seemed like Gillingham needed a goal if they were to get anything from the game.
Their opener came from their most threatening weapon in the shape of Jackson’s long throw. The Stanley defending was calamitous as Harvey Rodgers missed the ball, allowing Oliver to get a shot away at Accrington’s debutant keeper Liam Isherwood.
Isherwood managed to get a hand to the shot, but Kelman followed up to head the Gills into the lead.
Gillingham’s second also came from a long throw, albeit indirectly after a clearance fell Daniel Phillips, who lofted a hopeful back into the Stanley danger area. Nobody on the pitch moved apart from Isherwood and Oliver. Unfortunately for Accrington’s young stopper, the Gills centre forward jumped higher to head the ball into an unguarded net.
Stanely fought back, and Rodgers tried to redeem himself when he drew a penalty out of the Gillis defence with a powerful run ended unlawfully in the box. Bishop stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly placed his effort down the middle.
Seven minutes were added on, giving Coleman’s team hope an equaliser. The most controversial moment of the match came in the 96th minute, with Stanley winning a corner.
Sean McConville sent in a cross, which was headed into the area by Clark. Ross Sykes rose to head the ball, seemingly only to be jumped on by Jack Tucker. Referee Scott Oldham turned down the penalty appeals leaving Coleman and Accrington furious, which he conveyed post-match.
He said:
“Three penalty shouts, we probably got the weakest one of the three.
“The one at the end is diabolical.
“Nothing can appease me, or there is no explanation that can possibly say that is not a penalty.
“There is no radical or reasonable explanation why that is not a penalty.”
Stanley may feel that they have been let down by poor officiating, but Gillingham will not care as they have another essential three points as they try to escape the drop.
Harris’ side now have a four-point gap over AFC Wimbledon, who are in the final relegation spot, but they have played a game more.
If Oliver and Kelman can continue to score regularly, the Gills should be safe.
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It looks like another season of comfortable survival for Stanley as they have a 17 point gap from AFC Wimbledon, who currently occupy the final relegation spot in League One.
Saturday’s visitors have been buoyed by the appointment of the experienced coach Harris, who has inspired the Gills into picking up 15 points since his arrival in January.
John Coleman’s Stanley have not lost on their own patch in the last nine fixtures, but the Liverpudlian manager has voiced his frustrations that they have failed to reproduce the same form on the road.
The Stanley manager said:
“I guess our home form makes you feel a bit frustrated that we can’t do it away from home.
“But saying that, it’s good for our fans, good for business, we want as many people as we can through the gate, and we want to put on a spectacle, that’s our remit.
“First and foremost, we are a football club, and we want to produce a product on the pitch that people come and watch.
“I think this season we have at home, we have got good results but also performed well and had some exciting games.
“I can’t remember many drab games at the Wham Stadium this season, there has always been a lot of thrills and spills and good football played.
“Given good conditions, I think you are in for a treat whenever you watch Accrington play at home.”
There is no doubt that Stanley have been exciting to watch at home, scoring 34 times and conceding 26 so far this season, which has led to 11 victories, four draws and four defeats.
The statistics away from home make grim viewing for Accrington fans as they have only found the net 13 times while conceding 37 leading to 12 defeats, four stalemates and only three victories.
However, there are some interesting facts and figures that give some reason why Stanley have been more effective at home.
Coleman’s Reds have only failed to score in 5% of their fixtures at the Wham Stadium, while away from the place they have called home since 1968, they have failed to score in 53% of the games.
Failing to score in over half of their away games means Stanley were left to rely on the hope of keeping a clean sheet, which has proved a problem and led to some awful away performances, with last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle a prime example.
Surprisingly, Accrington have taken more shots in away games, averaging 16.05 per fixture compared to 15.05 at home.
But the key is the shots conversion rate which is a healthy 12% at the Wham Stadium compared to a measly 4% during away fixtures.
Stanley’s fantastic home form should intimate their struggling visitors from Kent, but Coleman was wary of the threat carried by the Gills but maintained that his side should be up for the challenge.
Coleman would add:
“The team that Gillingham have got will always be difficult to play against.
“Teams who have a lot to play for you think they can raise their game, but no one wants to win a game more than us.
“It doesn’t matter where we are in the league.
“The idea that they need it more than us goes out the window.
“We lost the corresponding fixture last year and, for that alone, I want to win as felt we did enough to win that game, a lot of things went against us.
“We have had good tussles with Gillingham over the years and had some entertaining games.”
Accrington and Gillingham have only 15 times in the past, with the last fixture between the two sides, which took place in October, culminating in a 0-0 draw.
The Gills have won seven of the 15 encounters with Stanley triumphing in four games, and there have been four draws.
Harris’ Gills need desperately need all the points they can get due to being only one point above the drop zone, but Coleman will be motivated to continue Stanley’s stunning home form.
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The Senegalese born Spaniard was banned from all forms of football activity for two years when traces of Higenamine were discovered in a urine sample from the player in January 2020.
Higenamine is a stimulant that strengthens the contractions of the heart and therefore increases cardiac output.
Barnsley released the powerful defender following the suspension, failing to complete a full season with the club.
Preston manager Ryan Lowe was quick to offer the 24-year-old a trial after the ban finished on the 17th of January 2022, and the former Lokeren man was impressive enough to be offered a deal to the end of the season.
Lowe spoke of Diaby having traits that were different from what was already in the Lilywhites squad.
He said:
“He’s got a fantastic attitude, and his application has been spot on.
“He’s trained on a daily basis for us, and he’s looked sharp.
“He’s different to what we’ve got.
“He can play in a few different positions around the back and probably right wing-back, so we’ve offered him a short-term deal until the end of the season to go and showcase what he’s got to potentially earn a longer contract.
“He’s very humble.
“He’s had a kick in the teeth, he’s been out for two years, and he’s very eager now to put that behind him and get on a streak.”
Lowe’s PNE operates in a three-five-two formation with the wingbacks pushed high to support the attack and the centre backs stepping in to aid the midfield in possession.
German defender Patrick Bauer has acted as a sweeper in the centre of the back three, but his lack of pace has sometimes seen the Lilywhites exposed.
Diaby has fantastic pace and power, which makes him a natural to fill the sweeper role in certain games against opposition with fast forward.
Due to how high the wingbacks work in Lowe’s preferred formation, there is a lot of space for the opposition to expose in the channels, which troubled Bauer, but Preston’s number 41 has the ability to shut down those fears.
Assured in possession, Diaby can also add to the retention of possession for the Deepdale based side as they stand an outside chance of making the Championship playoffs.
A draw away to Cardiff City at the weekend was frustrating for the Lilywhites faithful as they feel it was an opportunity missed to pick up three points.
However, Diaby’s strong performance was a positive to take away from the stalemate in Wales.
The six-foot-two defender recorded impressive possession stats, with an 82.9% passing accuracy.
City strikers Jordan Hugill and Issak Davies barely got a chance against the physical Diaby, who won four aerial duels, made five clearances, blocked two shots and won two tackles in a robust display.
Is Diaby the final piece of the jigsaw for Lowe’s Lilywhites?
Probably not, but the addition of the Spaniard to the Preston defence certainly goes a long way to making the Lancashire side increasingly solid in defence.
A partner for Emil Riis upfront and a new left-wingback are among the positions Lowe will need to strengthen during the summer transfer window.
Most will agree everyone deserves another chance, and it is pleasing from not only football fans but the human perspective to see Diaby positively clutching possibly a final shot at redemption
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Just like Amadou Bakayoko nicked the three points away from the Reds back in February, it was Icelandic striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson who struck at the death to salvage a point for Ian Evatt’s side.
Wanderers still have aspirations of the playoffs, but their evident lack of a cutting edge may hold back any real promotion push in the last few games.
There’s no doubt that Evatt has constructed a team to play neat, fluent, attacking football, but it was one of those nights where Dion Charles just could not find the finishing touch.
The Preston-born Northern Irish striker has made a bright start to his Bolton career scoring six times and assisting his teammates on three occasions.
It was not Charles’ game despite having plenty of chances, and the former Accrington Stanley man cannot be accused of lacking effort, but his finishing ability seemed to leave him.
Morecambe allowed the Wanderers striker plenty of time and space in the seventh minute, but he got the shot all wrong, and it drifted out for a goal kick.
Bolton had all the play in the opening exchanges, and Charles came close again after being played in by Bakayoko, but the 26-year-old only managed to hit the bar.
The Trotters’ boss Evatt spoke of his frustration at his side’s lack of a finishing touch.
He said:
“I thought first half we were unbelievable at times, breathtaking, and you have to understand against teams like that, and you create that many chances even against a low bock you have to score.
“We have to be more ruthless and clinical.
“We had some great opportunities, some brilliant passages of play, and we weren’t ruthless enough.
“And then the last thing you need to do against teams that come and camp like that is give them a goal.
“And we’ve gifted them a goal.
“Then they’ve got a bit more spirit, a little more belief, and they’re hanging on and then it becomes really difficult.
“The one time we moved the ball with speed and tempo, two touch around the box, we scored.”
Cole Stockton is a continuous revelation as he keeps up his glorious scoring form.
It is not hard to work out what position the Shrimps might be in if the Huyton-born forward had not contributed his 22 goals this season.
His strike against Wanderers may not have been his most spectacular and was as easy a finish as afforded to Morecambe’s talismanic hero, but again it proves that Stockton is consistently in the right place at the right time.
George Johnston was the guilty party in allowing the Shrimps to score, but questions can also be raised of Manchester City loanee stopper James Trafford.
An overhit flick on by January signing Dylan Connolly looked simple for Johnston to deal with by playing the ball out for a throw-in but possibly due to overcoaching, the Scottish youth international attempted to pass back to Trafford.
Yes, Johnston’s back pass was weak, but there also should be questions raised over why the Cockermouth-born keeper was not offering a closer option.
Adam Phillips snuck in and whipped the ball off Trafford’s toe into the path of Stockton for an easy tap-in.
Wanderers had 81% possession on the night and were a constant threat, but the goal just would not come up until the 94th minute.
Evatt had thrown Bodvarsson into the mix to try and find an equaliser, and after many passes across the Morecambe box, the ball fell to the Icelandic international, who finished past Trevor Carson.
The draw is not favourable for either side, but it does keep the hopes of both sides alive, with Bolton now seven points off the playoffs, whereas the Shrimps are just a point from safety.
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Many Shrimps fans hailed the return of the man they call the king as their best chance of survival, but they are yet to win a game since the arrival of the Scottsman.
Morecambe have slipped into the final relegation spot despite showing they are capable of competing at this level in some barnstorming performances.
Adams remains hopeful that he can keep the team, which he abandoned in the summer for Bradford City, in the third tier of English football,
It would be another remarkable achievement if Adams were to save Morecambe from relegation twice.
However, the former Ross County and Plymouth Argle manager stressed that the wins needed to come soon if the Shrimps were to stay up.
He said:
“I think at this point of the season, we obviously need three points, we have got to pick up a good number of wins between now and the end of the season to make us safe.
“There are two teams above us that we think we can catch, could we catch a third team above us in Lincoln City? It is a possibility.
“We can only do that by winning football matches, we have to look at ourselves but we are obviously helped by other results in the league, we are looking to win the game and hope that the teams above us lose to jump those places above them.”
There is great concern that the West Lancashire side may be without their talisman in Cole Stockton, who departed their two-nil loss early against Plymouth last time out after complaining of feeling unwell.
Stockton has found the back of the net 21 times this season, providing the majority of the Shrimps’ goal contribution during the campaign.
Morecambe’s relegation stresses will certainly be increased if they are without their star striker.
Bolton is a club that are building back after an awful time in the history of the club; falling from the heights of European football in the 2000s to dropping down to the bottom tier of English football last season.
The appointment of Ian Evatt has seen a revival in the clubs’ fortunes despite a slow start, and they are now in a place where they feel they can challenge for promotion to the Championship.
Evatt has found success in his prefered 5-3-2 formation, which he used when he started as a manager at Barrow and took the Bluebirds to the Football League for the first time.
The Coventry born manager managed to achieve automatic promotion at the first time of asking with the Trotters, and they have continued to perform at a good level after going up.
Speaking before their clash at home to Lancashire rivals, Evatt urged the locals to get behind the team and carry them through the remaining fixtures.
He said:
“We’ve got 10 games left and six of those are at home.
“We want to try and win all of our home games and if we can and we can nick things away from home it gives us a chance.
“We just want to create the best possible atmosphere we can here.
“If the supporters can do that and help us with the atmosphere, that it can help make it more difficult for the opposition.
“But one thing’s for sure; we have to all enjoy it.
“We have to enjoy the run-in, the way we are playing at the moment and the fact that we have given ourselves some stability and a platform to improve from.
“But people (also) have to remember that although this is a huge club, and this is Bolton Wanderers we are a newly-promoted team.
“It takes times to challenge at the top end of these divisions.”
The Wanderers are on track for their seventh win on the trot at home against Morecambe, who have the second-worst away record in the league, only picking up nine points from 17 games on the road.
It is a must-win game for both sides, with the Shrimps hoping to avenge Amadou Bakayoko’s late equaliser the last time the two teams met
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Crowd disorder has gone up 47% this season, with arrests rising from 547 to 802 after fans were fully allowed back in after the pandemic.
The incident occurred in the 89th minute when North End were awarded a penalty after Emil Riis Jakobsen was dragged down by Fankaty Dabo, who was then sent off, meaning both sides were down to 10 men due to Liam Lindsay being sent off five minutes earlier.
A couple of home supporters took to the pitch to cause the disruption and Jamaican international Daniel Johnson was made to wait to take the kick.
Admirably in the circumstances, Johnson converted past Simon Moore in the Coventry goal sending the away fans into raptures.
When it came to the end of the 90 minutes, referee Keith Stroud added on six minutes of time, three were due to the disruption before the penalty.
In the 98th minute, the game was still going, and the Sky Blues had a corner that fell to Fabio Tavares in the area.
The former Rochdale prospect unleashed a wonderful curling effort to beat Daniel Iversen and rescue a point for Mark Robins’ side.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe was very disappointed in the way the situation was treated and questioned the amount of added time.
“It’s very difficult to take when your lads have given you everything and are well worthy of three points, then to be undone by, I don’t know whether it was a wrong decision or the minutes [added].
“There are six minutes up, and we’ve played seven [minutes and] 20 [seconds], so I’m disappointed in that.
“The minutes he put up were through no fault of our own.
“I think it was the crowd obviously running on the pitch, and the referees put the time on for that, but I thought there was only one team that was going to go and win it, and that was us…
“I think the decision in terms of the minutes that’s gone up has stopped us getting three points because I thought we were well worthy of it.”
Trouble at games has started to become the norm, with an invasion of the playing surface becoming more common.
A similar incident occurred in a recent game between Rotherham United and Accrington Stanley, where a Millers’ fan kicked the ball away while Harry Pell waited to take a penalty.
Action needs to be taken before fans’ behaviour takes over and impacts more fixtures.
Preston are now left to wonder what if an incident like this blows any chance of a late promotion charge.
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It has been a pretty awful season for the Cumbrians.
The belief around the city was that United was doomed, facing certain relegation to the dark place of the National League and likely never to return, but a set of decisions saw stark change in the mood around the club.
Thoughts strayed to the possible end of the whole club.
Rumours had circulated since Carlisle’s loss to Swindon Town on February 19th that Keith Millen was thinking about leaving the club and those behind the scenes were actively looking for a replacement.
Those rumours came to fruition four days later when the club announced Millen left via mutual consent.
The former Crystal Palace coach seemed to have good ideas, but he failed to change a losing team’s fortunes around, so ultimately, he had to go.
Evidently, United alluded to the possibility that a new manager had already been recruited, saying that assistant manager Gavin Skelton would take the day’s training session.
However, before the Cumbrians could appoint a new boss, the shocking decision that the much-loathed Director of Football, David Holdsworth had left by mutual consent.
In an official statement on the club’s website, it read:
“As part of a restructure of the football department David Holdsworth has today stepped down from his position as the club’s director of football…
“The role of director of football will not be replaced going forward.”
Holdsworth was seen as a bit of a chancer by fans with a poor record elsewhere and the three appointments he was involved in during his time at Carlisle all failed.
The former Lincoln City manager was brought in as someone to oversee the cost-cutting exercise to help replenish the funds spent during Keith Curle’s costly and underachieving reign.
It was never going to be a success and Holdsworth soon picked up some unfortunate nicknames due to his disappearances when things did not go well at United.
Huge relief spread around the Cumbrians fan base and this seemed like a move that would give a little more freedom to the club, freeing up a sizeable salary.
Then, not long after the announcement, a name was bandied about Carlisle with hints of the return of a man who could unify the club at this uncertain time.
That man was Paul Simpson, the last manager to gain promotion with the Cumbrians and an all-time local hero.
United are at the point where they needed someone who genuinely cares about the fortunes of the club, and the manager, known as affectionately as ‘Simmo’, was unexpectedly put in place until the end of the season.
Jubilation filtered through the various social media sites and online forums as everyone was of the opinion that Carlisle’s board of directors had got this appointment right.
Inspired by the return of the much-loved boss, United went on to beat Leyton Orient 1-0 away from home, backed by 700 passionate Carlisle fans.
Finally, the Cumbrians might start to do things properly again and escape what seemed a probable relegation out of the Football League.
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The German missed two golden one-on-one opportunities in the first half, however, it was his vicious free-kick in the 77th minute which gave Tony Mowbray’s side a vital three points.
Rovers had gone five games without a goal before Khadra’s thunderbolt and with the injury to top goalscorer, Ben Brereton Diaz, it pointed to the signs that the Ewood Park side might slide out of play-offs.
Mowbray had made a rallying call to his squad for someone to step up and fill the void of their prolific Chilean striker and it was the tricky winger that did just that.
In the post-match press conference, the Rovers boss was quick to heap praise on Khadra but warned of consistency if he wants to make it in the Premier League.
“What a threat [Reda] Khedra is to anybody and yet we can sit here and criticise him for missing chances?
“Maybe because if he wants to play in the Premier League for Brighton [& Hove Albion], he’s probably got to take those chances.
“You sit there and watch him as I sit there and watch him and think, wow, I would not like to play against him.
“He’s so tricky, he’s so fast and powerful, he’s got a rocket in his right foot, and yet chances came, and chances were missed, and that’s maybe just a growth area for him.”
The game itself was a tale of missed chances, with Mowbray alluding to the fact that he thought his team should have been a couple of goals up at the break.
Khadra may be the match-winning hero, but the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee was very much culpable for Rovers’ sloppy play in front of goal.
Another loanee from the Seagulls, Jan Paul van Hecke, has impressed in a Blackburn shirt this season.
The tall Dutch centre-back is a Rolls Royce of a defender and he showed his quality on the ball in the 16th minute to spray a perfect diagonal pass into the path of his fellow Brighton loanee.
However, as was the case in the previous games this month, Khadra could not find the final touch to beat Sieng Dieng.
Tyrhys Dolan also performed excellently against QPR, playing a false nine role.
The former Preston North End forward may be short in stature, but his movement and energy make him a real nuisance for defenders.
Dolan’s intelligent play on the half-hour mark saw him send Khadra through, but the former Borussia Dortmund II man’s touch took him wide of the goal and he could not apply a finish.
Khadra’s lack of a left foot could be what holds back his progression, with both chances coming on his weaker side.
If he wants to move up a league and gain starts, then his left side will need to be worked on during training.
End product is so important and can often define a player’s career as he was caught lacking at times.
He displayed phenomenal pace and drive to beat Moses Odubajo, who is no slouch, on numerous occasions, but even when Sam Gallagher and Dolan were two on one in the box, Khadra could not find them.
Yet the German was a continuous threat for Rovers and his curling effort in the second half produced a fantastic save from Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall.
The 77th minute was to be the moment Khadra sent Ewood Park into delirium.
A free-kick to the left of the QPR box seemed to signal a good crossing opportunity, but Rovers’ skilful winger had other ideas and struck a stunning shot, which Marshall simply failed to deal with to the despair of the away support.
Rovers had further chances to finish off their opponents, but ultimately, it was Khadra’s moment of magic that put Mowbray’s hopes of promotion back on track.
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The Chilean scoring sensation provided a terrifying presence for opposition defenders, having racked up 20 goals this season.
Queens Park Rangers travel to Ewood Park after a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over Blackpool, and this may be a test to prove whether Blackburn can compete without Diaz’s inspired goalscoring form.
Mowbray has urged other squad members to step up to the goalscoring plate with their Stoke born striker out with an ankle ligament injury.
Diaz has scored 44% of the former Premier League Champions’ goals this season, and they have failed to win or even find the net in their last five games.
Rovers’ North-East born boss gave a rallying call after his side’s defeat away to Sheffield United.
He said:
“I don’t want to get hung up on how we haven’t scored a goal for how many games now.
“I look at the performance levels and always have done. With Brereton Diaz, we have to accept it.
“Adam Armstrong is no longer with us, Brereton Diaz isn’t going to be with us for a long time this season, and so somebody has to step up.
“Whether it’s a header from a corner, a scrappy goal like theirs (Sheffield United), a penalty kick, we have to find a way to score goals and win football matches.”
Sam Gallagher is the closest to Diaz in terms of number this season, but the former Southampton youth academy graduate has never been prolific, with his best season’s total culminating in 11 goals.
German midfielder Reda Khadra and winger Tyrhys Dolan both sit on four goals this season, but otherwise, the contribution from others is sadly lacking, which may hinder Rovers’ promotion push.
The Ewood Park-based side are set to be boosted by the return of skillful winger Ian Poveda and attacking midfielder Bradley Dack.
Dack has experience in scoring goals from a deeper position, and it is hoped that Poveda can use his trickery to unlock the opposition’s defences.
QPR are again challenging for a place back into England’s top flight after a few seasons of struggle.
Resilience has been a factor in the R’s performances recently after having Dion Sanderson sent off in their most recent fixture against Blackpool, which they recovered from Josh Bowler’s equaliser for Luke Amos to sneak the three points.
Mark Warburton’s team have been without their leading marksman in Australian-born Scottish international Lyndon Dykes.
The powerful target man provides a strong outlet for the London side, and the R’s have missed his presence up front.
It’s perhaps telling that Warburton chose not to use a striker in the game against Blackpool, possibly alluding to the fact he may feel he cannot rely on the experienced pair of Charlie Austin or Andre Gray.
Both sides play with wingbacks, which has become a formation much preferred by clubs recently due to the width and potential overlap it creates with centre backs moving to support those on the flanks.
A win for Blackburn could see them move into third place and overtake Saturday’s visitors depending on the Huddersfield result.
QPR are only two points behind Bournemouth in the automatic promotion place, and a win at Ewood Park may see the Hoops move up to the second spot.
Rovers have triumphed 25 times in the meetings between the two sides, whereas QPR have only won 17 of the clashes.
The managers of both teams will be preparing their players for a matchup, which could have big ramifications on the Championship playoff picture.
Blackburn’s last game at Ewood Park was called off, but weather conditions in Lancashire means this is unlikely to happen to Saturday’s clash
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