Graham Alexander rues Salford’s game management in Carlisle draw

Salford manager Graham Alexander criticised his side’s game management after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Carlisle.

All the goals came in a pulsating first half as the visitors hit back from 1-0 down to lead, only for Stefan Scougall to equalise two minutes before the interval.

Alexander felt his players should have gone into half-time ahead after Emmanual Dieseruvwe cancelled out  Olufela Olomola’s opener before Daniel Whitehead scored from the spot.

“Going 1-0 down early on was difficult for us to manage, but our response was superb and we got ourselves in front,” he said.

“It was frustrating to concede again just before half-time and that is a game-management issue and not for the first time it has happened.”

The visitors could have scored a winner late on but Adam Rooney was denied by home goalkeeper Adam Collin.

Salford remain winless since the opening game of the season but Alexander was satisfied to have picked up two points from the week’s away trips to opposite ends of the country.

He said: “We have to take the positive from a good point. It was a fantastic chance at the end where the keeper made a great save.

“We changed the shape a little in the second half and you could see a few tired bodies.

“We have to take care of the ball better, but it’s been a tough week for us with away games at Plymouth and here at Carlisle and we’ve got two points from two tough away games.”

Carlisle manager Steven Pressley admitted that missed chances proved costly and in the end it was an “amazing” save by Collin that saved a point for his side.

Pressley said: “We made some good opportunities and got an early early goal, but then we had a 10-minute spell that cost us dearly. We have to eradicate those mistakes.

“We aren’t far from being a really good team, but we have to take our chances.”

“We are getting closer, but there’s still work to do. For 75 minutes it was a good performance. We need to get it to 90.

“Our midfield dominated, but when you have that level of domination you have got to win games and do small things better. There are good signs.”

Alexander felt that centre-back Byron Webster had been fouled in the lead up to the first Salford goal.

He said: “There referee said there was minimal contact, but minimal contact tripped him.”