Paul Simpson delighted with Carlisle after draw with Charlton

Posted Sunday, November 26, 2023 by PA

Proud Carlisle boss Paul Simpson paid tribute to his side’s battling qualities as they came from behind in front of the club’s new owners to secure a welcome point in a 1-1 draw with Charlton.

Corey Blackett-Taylor put the Addicks on course for an excellent away win with a clinical 54th-minute opener.

But defender Sam Lavelle hauled the hosts level eight minutes later with his first goal for a year to rescue a point at Brunton Park.

“It’s been a fantastic few days with the news that the takeover had been completed,” said Simpson.

“But I’ve said it all along that the football has to be right for the supporters after all the planning that has gone to put things in place.

“I thought the players showed incredible character. Sometimes when there’s a takeover they fall flat on their backs, but we didn’t and we took a point out of the game.

“It could be a really good point to keep us going and keep us in there until we get the cavalry in.”

“We had to accept that Charlton are a very, very good team. They caused us all sorts of problems, particularly for the first part of the game.

“But I thought we were better once I’d shuffled it around when we went from a back five to a back four, we were able to get a little bit more control in the game.”

The point keeps Carlisle in touch with safety as they look to get out of the drop zone.

Simpson added: “We played well in the first half and things didn’t quite drop for us despite getting into good areas. Unfortunately we didn’t get that little bit of luck we were crying out for.

“But in the end I thought it was a really good point – and we got it, probably not through total football, but desire, determination, character and a real will to get something.

“We’re down to a very depleted group at the moment. It’s tough for us at the moment, but we’ve just got to get on with it.”

Charlton remain in mid-table and manager Michael Appleton thought this was a missed opportunity.

“It’s two points lost, we dominated the game,” he said.

“I’m disappointed with the lack of concentration for their goal because I didn’t see them being too much of a threat other than that.

“But it’s one of them, you’ve got to make sure sometimes when you’ve got teams on the rope you finish them off.

“We had a spell of about five or 10 minutes where we looked like we going to score, but we weren’t aggressive enough in that final third.

“Little things like that can be very frustrating, but ultimately it’s another point on the board and we’ve got two home games coming up against Cheltenham and Cambridge, so hopefully we can get maximum points.”