For United's first ever visit to the KC Stadium, a large crowd was in attendance, estimated at over 20,000 on visual evidence alone. The occasion was also Paul Simpson's first in permanent charge of Carlisle. Richie Foran started as a lone striker for the visitors with youngster David Molloy playing behind him. Kevin Henderson was back on the bench after injury. Some bookies were quoting odds of 10/1 against the Cumbrians upsetting the form book - in a two-horse race. The table-topping Tigers came in to the match with four straight wins behind them and had stacked up 12 goals in their previous three contests. United didn't look overawed in the opening exchanges and Molloy had a good run and cross after six minutes that produced a corner kick. Paul Musselwhite easily claimed Peter Murphy's kick. The first meaty challenge from Will McDonagh on 10 minutes brought a yellow. Hull's first corner on 13 minutes taken by Stuart Green found the head of Ben Burgess who glanced home his header over Glennon to put the home side in front. The United defence was under pressure within moments as Kelly cleared from a Green through ball. Danny Allsopp then outpaced Kelly, fired across Glennon and the ball cannoned off the woodwork. Chris Billy was booked for a high challenge on Jason Price. Another Green corner was cleared by Kelly on 26 minutes. A Price cross a minute later was met by Burgess and the tall striker's header was inches wide of the keeper's right-hand post. The height of the Hull forwards was continuing to cause problems. Molloy was the likely lad for United and he was the only to take on the home defence. Murphy got the ball on his left foot and drilled wide with Carlisle's first proper attempt on goal. City had another strike on goal when Allsopp turned rather clumsily and fired over the bar. Foran became the third player cautioned for a high boot on Delaney. Burgess wasted a good opening six minutes from half-time when he snatched at a chance 10 yards out following a nod down from Allsopp. United forced two quick corners as they tried a variation with a short corner routine with McGill and Billy. A Murphy cross brought a header away from Hinds. Billy was getting more influential but an offside flag thwarted his attempt to put Foran in. Foran then did well to steal the ball and put in Murphy. The Irishman went down under challenge inside the box but the ref ruled it a fair tackle. The fourth booking was tallied up when Murphy went into the notebook for what appeared like dissent, just seconds from the end of normal time. At half-time, the visitors would have been reasonably pleased to have held Hull at bay, the early goal not leading to the expected deluge and United looking more lively towards the interval without creating anything of note. The home side began the second half menacingly as a loose ball fell to Allsopp whose chip was deflected just wide to concede a corner. Billy then set up Byrne who did well to force a corner for United. Hesitancy in the home rearguard brought another corner. Musselwhite palmed away under pressure and Byrne got in an effort that flew over the target. McGill's through ball so nearly found Foran who was denied by the onrushing keeper. Green's trickery almost undid United but Billy was back to concede a corner. The midfielder was getting through a lot of work for Carlisle at both ends of the field. The next time he was involved, he collided with Burgess to concede a rather soft free kick 20 yards out. The wall did its job and Green's effort was blocked. 60 minutes in Murphy then went on a great run into the box and found McDonagh who shot into the top right hand corner past Musselwhite to equalise. It was little more than the visitors deserved for some much improved play. Andrews then made a mistake and tried to recover, making what looked at first to be a fair tackle on Allsopp as last man but the referee saw different, waving a red card at the young stopper. Green's free kick rattled the cross-bar. As United lost a little composure Byrne made a poor challenge on Price to become the sixth United man to collect a card. Despite being down to 10 men, United still looked to push forward when they had the chance. Rundle replaced the tiring Molloy on 70 minutes. Peter Taylor gambled on three strikers, bringing on Jamie Forrester. Still Carlisle held firm. A long ball by Price caught Carlisle out fifteen minutes from time as Forrester got in to turn and hammer over Glennon. Allsopp headed over. Henderson entered the fray in place of Foran. As the striker walked down the tunnel there appeared to be an altercation and a red card was shown to him. The Cumbrians had now had two men sent off but still had ten on the field - a future Question of Sport poser if ever there was one. Despite their misfortune, United battled back and forced a corner, but Rundle's kick barely flicked Kelly's head as it went behind harmlessly. Hull appeared happy at times just to hold their lead. Rundle threatened as United attempted to rescue something late in the game. Forrester became the first home player to get a booking. A McGill cross aimed at Rundle brought a finger tip away from the City keeper. Another two corners followed as United bravely tried to level. Hull headed wide as the board went up with four minutes to add on. McGill drilled in a 25-yard screamer that flew inches wide. Al's verdict: When will our luck turn? Anything other than a loss here would have been a big bonus but the manner of defeat was still hard to accept. For a while in the opening half it looked like we might be overwhelmed but we held firm and chances came regularly in the second period, McDonagh's strike being richly deserved. After that the officials conspired to change the game with Andrews off for a debatable foul. Even then United looked capable of earning a draw and McGill's late effort so nearly brought a priceless point. Hopefully the players will react to this in the right way and finally get the result their performances are promising. |
