Paddock Perception

Category: Non League Football

  • Carlisle United 3-0 Truro City Review

    On Saturday, Mark Hughes’ Carlisle United side comfortably beat John Askey’s Truro City at Brunton Park 3-0.

    Two quick fire first half goals from Luke Armstrong gave the Cumbrians the ascendancy and then a brilliant solo goal from Regan Linney sealed the three points in the second half.

    Match Review

    Truro started the game well and were passing the ball around well but with little attacking threat.

    In the 10th minute a brilliant team move lead to the opening goal, Archie Davies found Cameron Harper, Cameron Harper then found Wearne on the left of the area and he crossed for Luke Armstrong to tap home to give Carlisle a 1-0 lead.

    Shortly after in the 12th minute, Regan Linney turned inside on the his foot and had a shot that looped up after a defensive block and Luke Armstrong was in the right place once again to finish smartly to give the blues a comfortable 2-0 lead.

    Both of Carlisle United wingers were getting lots of joy against their full backs and were putting dangerous balls in to the box but just couldn’t find that end product to put the game to bed.

    HT Carlisle United 2-0 Truro City

    The second half started off quite flat with Truro enjoying some spells of possession and their best chance of the game came from a series of well worked corners as Will Dean shot just wide from the edge of the area.

    On the hour mark a piece of individual brilliant sealed the game for Mark Hughes’ side as Regan Linney beat two players, nutmegged the defender in the box and finished brilliantly in to the roof of the net from a tight angle. A moment that had everyone on their feet

    From then it was just a matter of how many for Carlisle United but they failed to add to their goals tally despite a great for Harvey Macadam on the break and shots from Callum Whelan and Luke Armstrong that went just wide.

    Truro nearly got on the scoresheet as Gabe Breeze held on the ball too long when and was closed down by Tyler Harvey but luckily for Breeze and Carlisle the ball was deflected over the bar.

    FT Carlisle United 3-0 Truro City

    Massive credit to the 78 Truro supporters who made the long trip, they are a credit to themselves and their team and have nothing but everyone’s respect, good luck to them for the rest of the season.

    How Did Carlisle Perform?

    First half after a slow start, Carlisle played some exciting football at times. David Ajiboye was a threat down the right, Regan Linney as always was a threat down the left and Luke Armstrong’s movement was causing their defence serious problems.

    There were still some some lapses in concentration at times but it’s a lot more forgivable when you’re two goals to the good.

    Second half was similar to the first with a slow start to the half but after the third goal Carlisle really found their confidence again and were playing some nice football and creating openings and chances in behind both full backs.

    Overall I would say Carlisle weren’t at their best but they didn’t have to be. Mark Hughes’ side will know there are a lot tougher tests to come in the next few months. As for Truro they were far from their best but they will probably be content it was only 3-0 in the end and they will have games against their fellow strugglers to come that will be imperative to their survival hopes.

    My Carlisle United Player Ratings

    Gabe Breeze -6- came for set pieces well, didn’t have a lot to do except one save in the first half. Nearly got caught out in the second half that could’ve cost us a goal.

    Archie Davies -7- made some great runs forward and created space for the wingers at times. Defensively didn’t do anything wrong, another solid afternoon for Davies.

    Bevis Mugabi -6- comfortable afternoon in general for the defence but a couple of times Mugabi missed his headers and nearly gave the ball away with the ball at his feet.

    Terell Thomas -7- a lapse in the first half from Thomas but apart from that he won pretty much every header, knew when to pass and when to go along and had a very good game.

    Cameron Harper -7- was targeted early on by Truro but stood his ground. He defended well and had a huge part to play in the opening goal with his pass to Wearne.

    Jack Ellis -7.5- comfortable in midfield, he was calm and composed, he broke the play up well and found the pass when under pressure, really impressive.

    Alex Gilliead -7- done a job in the midfield, won possession back at times, made runs in to dangerous areas and kept the ball well.

    Stephen Wearne -7- covered a lot of ground in the midfield, made some runs off the midfielders and got the assist for Luke Armstrong’s opening goal.

    David Ajiboye -6- got in some dangerous positions in the first half but lacked an end product but overall much improved from what we’ve seen from him so far this season.

    Regan Linney -8.5- a constant threat, always gets his head up when he’s on the ball and runs the defenders. He had a huge part to play in the second goal and got his brilliant goal in the second half, my man of the match.

    Luke Armstrong -8.5- a very close second to Regan Linney for man of the match, took both his goals like a striker should, he never stopped running and created space for others with some intelligent running.

    SUBSTITUTES

    Callum Whelan -7- kept the ball well when he came on and was unlucky to not get on the scoresheet himself.

    Junior Luamba -7- made some direct runs when he came on and had the beaten of his man. He almost got an assist when he came on as well.

    Harvey Macadam -6- done a job when he came on and should’ve scored when clean through on goal but shot wide.

    Georgie Kelly -6- held the ball up brilliantly and gave their defence a lot to think about when he came on.

    Josh Grant -6- made some good tackles when he came on and kept the ball well, signs of real improvement from Grant after his debut against Solihull.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X- @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997

  • Carlisle United vs Truro City Preview

    This Saturday sees Carlisle welcome newly promoted Truro City to Brunton Park, with the home side looking to build on Wednesday’s 1-0 win away to Brackley, and John Askey’s side looking to continute their turnaround after taking four points from the previous two games.

    How Have Both Teams Started The Season?

    Mark Hughes’ side have enjoyed a relatively strong start to their National Leaugue campaign, earning four wins and two draws from their opening seven fixtures. United responded well to last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Sutton United by taking a hard earned three points at Brackley in midweek thanks to the league’s top scorer Regan Linney’s second half strike.

    The Blues currently sit third in the league with 14 points from 7 games.

    The Tinners have had a tough start to National League life following last season’s promotion, losing their opening five league fixtures but have started building some momentum in their last couple of games, winning a convincing 3-0 victory at home to Boston United last Saturday, and being seconds away from taking another three points at home to Aldershot in a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. John Askey will be frustrated not to see his side take all three from that game however, conceding a last minute equaliser as the visitors ended the game with nine men.

    Truro currently sit 22nd in the league with 4 points from 7 games.

    Players To Watch

    Despite some frustrations from United’s fans with some of their performances so far this season, it’s hard to argue they have a great calibre of player in their squad, and the main man to watch will almost certainly be the league’s top scorer Regan Linney, who has six goals from seven appearances so far. Linney’s excellent striking of the ball, his work rate and tenacity combined with his ability to take on his man has seen him be a lethal force from the left flank this season for the Cumbrians and he will definitely be one that Truro will be looking out for.

    Another player i’ve picked out to watch is Alex Gillead. Gilliead made his debut in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Brackley following his loan move from Shrewsbury and has already shown signs of what he’s capable of in a United shirt, the ex Bradford man has proven he’s able to use the ball intelligently, drive forward and cause opposition problems in dangerous areas and pick out some key passes when given the opportunity, his pedigree will likely be one that will catch the eye of Truro and Askey when preparing for this match.

    The first player i’m picking out to watch for Truro is their talisman Tyler Harvey. Harvey has been Truro’s top scorer in the past six season for the club and has made over 200 appearances for City over two spells at the club, scoring more than 125 goals during his time there. Carlisle have struggled to deal with natural goalscorers this season such as Luke Norris and Dan Creaney, and with Harvey’s physical presence and experience up front he is likely to pose a threat to the Cumbrians’ backline.

    The other Truro player i’ve picked out is Will Dean. The former Exeter City man has been one of Truro’s standouts since joining them permanently in 2021. Primarily a midfielder but also capable of being an effective presence in defence, Dean already has a couple of goals to his name this term and after a couple of strong showings against Boston and Aldershot, he will be well up for the game on Saturday and could be a tough nut to crack for Mark Hughes’ side.

    My Predicted Carlisle United Starting Eleven

    Breeze, Davies, Mugabi, Thomas, Harper, Ellis, Macadam, Gilliead, Wearne, Linney, Kelly.

    I’m going with the age old mantra of not changing a winning side here, and although there were question marks over the performance on Wednesday, the players showed a great ability to roll their sleeves up and grind out a win at Brackley, and for that reason i can’t see Hughes making any changes. The only question marks for me are whether Thomas will keep his place after limping off late on Wednesday, and whether United will trust Georgie Kelly to start a second game in the space of four days.

    Score Prediction

    Carlisle United 3 – 1 Truro City

    This definitely feels like it could be a bit of a stumbling block for United, as on paper it feels like what should be a routine win, but Truro’s momentum over the last couple of games could give them a bit of confidence to come and take the game to Carlisle. With that said however, Truro have also proven to be very vulnerable at the back this season, and will be disappointed in themselves for not keeping a hold of the three points in Wednesday’s draw with Aldershot.

    I just about see Carlisle’s team being a little bit too much for Truro to deal with, especially with Regan Linney being in such fine form, however United will definitely have to be on their guard and look to be a little sharper on home turf this Saturday.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_tv

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997

  • Brackley Town 0-1 Carlisle United Match Review

    A Regan Linney strike was all that separated the two sides in what was a largely lacklustre game of football at St James Park as Mark Hughes’ side ran out 1-0 winners in a gritty midweek clash.

    The game started off in a fairly high gear as a back and forth affair saw both sides put pressure on the other’s defensive line, the visitors had a good chance early on as some good linkup play from Georgie Kelly and Stephen Wearne saw the latter’s initial shot blocked into the path of Kelly, who hit a side footed effort towards the top left corner which was superbly tipped round the post by Johnny Maxted.

    Brackley weren’t sitting back themselves though, threatening Carlisle’s right flank with some good play from Riccardo Calder and Morgan Robets, and Calder’s cross moments later was met by the head of Matt Lowe from just over 12 yards out but the former Accrington forward could only direct his header wide of the right hand post.

    The Cumbrians continued to probe the home side’s defence and almost found a breakthrough in the 20th minute, but a superb interception from Zak Lilly stopped a low Linney cross from reaching the feet of Kelly inside the six yard area. Kelly was in amongst the action a few minutes later too, as a Cameron Harper cross was volleyed towards goal by the left foot of Carlisle’s number 9, but again he fired just wide of the left hand post.

    The Saints were struggling to contain the former Rotherham man and he was once again found with another cross into the box, this time by Archie Davies, but his header was again just slightly wide of the goal.

    HALF TIME: Brackley Town 0 – 0 Carlisle United

    Both sides struggled to get going in the early minutes of the 2nd half of the game, trading long direct passes with United’s midfield especially struggling to really get into the game. Brackley had the best chance of the half so far on the hour mark as Scott Pollock was played down the left by Calder, but his shot was easily pushed behind by Gabe Breeze after the angle was against the ex Northampton man.

    Both sides toiled to get any real grip of the game before United found the breakthrough seemingly out of nowhere as Jack Ellis was fed in the centre of the pitch by substitute Luke Armstrong before chipping the ball through to Linney, who took advantage of Brackley players being slow to react, and timed his run inside to perfection, took a touch inside the area before firing home into the bottom left corner to bag his 6th goal of the season for his new club and send Carlisle back up north with all 3 points.

    FULL TIME: Brackley Town 0 – 1 Carlisle United – Linney (79′)

    Brackley: Maxted, Calder, Lilly, Dean, Morrison, Roberts (Hobson 80′), Byrne, Pollock (Lyttle 70′), Price (Brown 75′), Waldron (Hall 70′), Lowe. Subs Not Used: Gregory, Haynes

    Carlisle: Breeze, Davies, Mugabi, Thomas (Hayden 90+2′), Harper, Ellis, Macadam, Gillead (Armstrong 71′), Wearne (Grant 82′), Linney (Whelan 90+2), Kelly. Subs Not Used: Lewis, Murray, Ajiboye.

    How Did United Perform?

    It was far from the ideal performance from us tonight, despite creating a few half decent chances in the early stages of the game, we really struggled to maintain any level of composure or control of the match and it’s tough to say we really deserved to come away with the 3 points. For large parts we found it hard to get our midfield involved in the game and when we did, the passing was often too laboured to really cause Brackley problems.

    With that said however, 3 points is 3 points, and after a poor result on Saturday at Sutton, it’s exactly the antidote we needed to hopefully get us back on the right track, plus our defence held up very well and Breeze’s goal was never really properly threatened, we definitely need to up our game still going forward, but the defensive improvements and ability to grind out a result when not playing overly well can only be a positive.

    Carlisle Player Ratings:

    Breeze – 6: Didn’t have all that much to do, but when called upon he did it well.

    Davies – 5: Thought he had a poor game today, struggled in the first half to contain Calder and Roberts, and his passing and touches in the attacking third were generally very wayward

    Mugabi – 7: Won virtually all of his aerial battles and largely dominated Brackley’s attack.

    Thomas – 6: Couple of questionable clearances again however like Mugabi was largely untroubled by Brackley’s forwards.

    Harper – 6: Did okay for the most part, couple of wayward passes let him down again, still arguments that this area is a weak spot for us.

    Ellis – 6: Struggled to get into the game for large periods but played a great pass forward for Linney’s goal and worked tirelessly like he usually does.

    Macadam – 5: Didn’t impact the game much and when he did get on the ball, his touches tended to let him down, tough to see what his role in the team is at times.

    Gillead – 6: Not a bad showing for his debut, generally used the ball well but lacked any real penetration to his game, will hopefully grow into the side.

    Wearne – 6: Worked hard as usual, couple of points where it felt like others weren’t quite on his wavelength when he attempted to make things happen.

    Linney – 7: The difference maker for Carlisle once again, quieter than average game for our talisman but took his goal excellently and can always be trusted to come up with something.

    Kelly – 6: Held the ball up well and was handful for Brackley’s centre backs especially in the opening stages but had to be on a bit of a leash when he received an early booking, will probably be disappointed not to have taken one of his chances.

    Subs:

    Armstrong – 6: Put himself about well enough when he came on, did well to hold the ball up and feed Ellis prior to Linney’s goal

    Grant – 6: Made a couple of decent challenges in midfield but still lacking in mobility.

    Please note these are Craig’s opinions and nothing official!

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_tv

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997

  • Where Does Alex Gilliead Fit In Under Mark Hughes?

    Last night, Carlisle United announced the signing of 29-year-old midfielder Alex Gilliead on loan from Shrewsbury Town.

    This is his second spell with the Cumbrians ten years after the first. The midfielder has had spells with Bradford, Scunthorpe, and most recently Shrewsbury since his first spell at Brunton Park.

    Today I’m going to look at where Gilliead fits in under Mark Hughes and whether or not there are still positions that need strengthening.

    Where Does Gilliead Fit In?

    Gilliead is a midfield that will work tirelessly, he will do his defensive duties but mainly he will progress with the ball, carry the ball forward and be good in transition when Carlisle attack.

    He can play some key passes in the final third and keep the ball ticking over in the middle of the pitch. The midfielder also has an eye for goal and won’t be shy to shoot if the chance presents itself.

    Gilliead is versatile and can play in the centre or can play on either wing and with the games coming thick and fast in the National League versatile players are worth their weight in gold.

    I think we will see Alex Gilliead battle with Callum Whelan and Ethan Robson for that “number eight” spot, he can play further forward as well and battle Stephen Wearne and Elliot Embleton for the “number ten” spot as well.

    Do Carlisle United Need More Additions?

    Personally I would like to see an experienced holding muffler brought it because Harvey Macadam isn’t a player that can just sit and dictate games, Jack Ellis is still learning to play there and will be exposed against good teams and Josh Grant hasn’t impressed so far since he joined in the summer.

    I still think maybe another central defender for cover until Morgan Feeney is fully fit wouldn’t be a bad idea, Paul Huntington is a free agent and would do a job short term in my opinion.

    Do you think Mark Hughes still needs more players through the door? Please let us know in the comments.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997

  • Alex Gilliead Joins The Blues On Loan

    Late on Monday night, Carlisle United announced the signing of Shrewsbury Town midfielder Alex Gilliead. Gilliead joins the blues for the second time on a loan that runs until 11th January.

    A Look at Gilliead’s Career

    The 29-year-old began his career at Newcastle United, he progressed through the academy ranks but did not make a senior appearance for the Magpies.

    He gained valuable first team experience during a series of loan spells in the EFL, starting with the Blues back in 2015/16. Further loan moves followed at Luton Town and Bradford City, the latter of which he rejoined for a second spell during the 2017/18 season.

    Following his departure from Newcastle, Gilliead joined Shrewsbury Town in 2018, before moving to Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2019. He became a regular for the Iron, making over 75 appearances in two seasons.

    In 2021, he returned to Bradford City for a third spell — this time on a permanent basis. Over the next three seasons, Gilliead became a key figure for the Bantams, making over 100 appearances and earning praise for his consistency, leadership, and versatility across midfield positions. In July 2023, he signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2024/25 season.

    However, in August 2024, he moved back to Shrewsbury Town, where he had previously played in the 2018/19 campaign.

    What Has Been Said?

    Head Coach, Mark Hughes said: “Alex is someone who can slot into several roles when the team needs him most.

    “He has great stamina and work rate, he never stops running, pressing, and driving his team forward. His versatility means he can play in multiple positions, always giving 100% wherever he’s asked to step in.

    “But it’s not just about what he does with the ball — his character shines through in every match. Professional, humble, and respected by teammates, he sets the standard in training and matches alike.

    “Whether it’s covering every blade of grass, stepping up in big moments, or lifting the squad with his attitude – 
    Gilly is a player I am delighted to be able to work with again.”

    Head of Football Operations, Marc Tierney added: “We are delighted to finally secure one of our top targets in Alex Gilliead.

    “He was identified early in the window, and we’ve been monitoring his situation closely.

    “Alex is a player with real pedigree and importantly, he knows the club and supporters from his previous spell here.

    “He’s worked under Mark before, but just as crucially, he fits the ethos of Carlisle United — his fitness levels, work ethic, and desire to help push the club forward stood out to us. He knows what it means to play here and is genuinely keen to return. We are confident he will make a big impact both on and off the pitch.”

    My Opinion On The Move

    The midfielder brings lots of experience to Brunton Park and the manager has mentioned his work rate and ability to push the team forward which could be vital in tight games.

    Gilliead impressed in his previous spell at Brunton Park and if he’s anywhere near as good as we was back in the 15/16 season this will be seen as a great piece of business for the Cumbrians.

    Myself and Craig would like to wish Alex well and we hope his stay at Brunton Park is a successful one, welcome Alex!

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X- @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997

  • Brackley Town v Carlisle United Preview

    On Wednesday night, Mark Hughes takes his Carlisle United side to St James Park to take on Brackley Town.

    Brackley will be looking to build on their hard fought draw with Scunthorpe at the weekend and Carlisle will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance and defeat to Sutton United on Saturday.

    How Have Both Teams Started The Season?

    Brackley Town are currently sat in 10th place with eight points from their first five games which is a very good start for a newly promoted side.

    Brackley began the season with a 1-0 win over Eastleigh before a tight 2-1 defeat to Yeovil in their second game, they then returned to winning ways with a 2-1 over high flying Rochdale before back-to-back 1-1 draws with Tamworth and Scunthorpe.

    Carlisle United are currently sat in 5th place with eleven points from their first six games, it’s maybe not the flying start some people expected but it could’ve been a lot worse.

    The Cumbrians began the season with a 2-0 win at Woking before two disappointing draws at home with Boreham Wood in a 3-3 thriller and 1-1 with Solihull Moors, they then returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win at Wealdstone and a 5-0 win at home against Braintree but last time out they suffered their first defeat of the season as they lost 2-1 to Sutton United.

    Players To Watch

    The first Brackley Town player I’ve picked to watch out for is Ryan Haynes. Haynes is a full-back by trade but can play further forward on the left if needed.

    The 29-year-old puts balls in to the box and gets up and down the pitch very well. The former Northampton, Coventry and Newport man can score goals and get assists, he will be a constant threat for Archie Davies to be mindful of.

    The second player I’ve chosen to watch out for is Morgan Roberts, Roberts will play in behind the strikers in an attacking midfielder role.

    The 24-year-old will look to pick up pockets of space and open up the Carlisle United defence with his range of passing. Roberts also has an eye for goal and will look to fire from range if give the opportunity as well.

    Carlisle United players to watch will depend on which Carlisle United turns up. The first player I’ve chosen to watch out for is Archie Davies. The 26-year-old is a constant threat going forward especially if he has a winger in front of him because he will link up well. The battle of Haynes v Davies could decide the game in my opinion.

    Davies has already shown so far this season he can defend and be hard to beat for any opposing winger but he’s also shown his attacking threat and has been providing for the strikers.

    The second player I’ve chosen is Regan Linney, I know I pick him nearly every match but he really is the Cumbrians’ talisman and Sutton showed on Saturday that if you can keep Linney quiet Carlisle don’t have a lot going forward without him.

    The 28-year-old will be a constant threat down the left for Mark Hughes’ side, Linney has five goals in six games so far this season and if he gets a chance he’s in good form so you would expect him to take it. His direct running is nightmare for any defender and his work rate is second to none and will track back and help his team when need as well.

    My Predicted Carlisle United Eleven

    I expect the manager to make some changes after Saturday’s performance.

    Starting Eleven

    Breeze, Davies, Thomas, Mugabi, Harper, Ellis, Macadam, Whelan, Ajiboye, Linney, Kelly.

    Goalkeeper

    Breeze will start every game if he’s fit, comfortably the best keeper at the club.

    Defence

    Hughes clearly likes his back four so I don’t expect him to change it despite calls for changes at centre back in particular.

    Midfield

    Its obvious Mark Hughes side needs more in midfield but on paper the three I’ve chosen I think is probably Carlisle’s strongest midfield but I wouldn’t be surprised so maybe see Josh Grant maybe come for some power in midfield.

    Attack

    With Luamba’s fitness in question after being dropped from the squad against Sutton it was obvious Carlisle missed the width on the right so I think he’ll bring in Ajiboye despite him not impressing so far he will give width down the right and maximise Davies attacking threat as well.

    Kelly made a real difference when he came on against Sutton and got the late consolation goal so I expect him to start this game if he’s fit enough to do so with Luke Armstrong maybe getting a rest for this one.

    My Score Prediction

    Brackley Town 2-1 Carlisle United

    This will be another tough away day for Carlisle United, Brackley are undefeated in three home games so far this season (four if you include the cup) and they will be no pushovers.

    Carlisle will have to be so much better than they were on Saturday to get anything out of this game.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997

  • Sutton United 2-1 Carlisle United Match Review

    Carlisle suffered their first defeat of the National League season this afternoon as goals from Edon Pruti and David Ogbonna gave Sutton United a 2-1 win to lift them out of the National League relegation zone. The Blues pegged the home side back late on through substitute Georgie Kelly but it proved too little too late for Mark Hughes’ men.

    The match started in incredibly tentative fashion, with the visitors controlling large parts of the possession without really threatening the Sutton backline. Luke Armstrong was his usual self and harrying the hosts’ defenders but Steve Morison’s backline stood strong. Sutton’s main threats early on were on the counter attack, with the pace of Brandon Njoku keeping Carlisle’s backline on their toes. Carlisle had the earliest half sights of goal as Regan Linney had a couple of drives at Junior Eccleston but his long range efforts both sailed comfortably over the bar.

    Sutton looked to make the most of their forays forward too however as their captain Harry Phipps got in down the inside right channel after a poor clearance from United captain Terrell Thomas but the ex Dagenham man’s cross was easily collected by Gabe Breeze.

    Both sides continued trading jabs but neither side could find a decisive blow as Ndjuku continued to harass the visitors’ defence and Callum Whelan won the ball well a couple of times in the midfield area for the home side. Whelan caused more problems in the 33rd minute as his corner wasn’t dealt with well by Sutton, but was eventually cleared following a minor scramble in the area.

    Both sides sprung to life in the closing parts of the first half however as Carlisle broke forward in the 39th minute and forced a 3 on 1 opportunity with Luke Armstrong breaking down the right hand side but the ex Harrogate man held onto the ball too long and his eventual pass into Linney was collected too close to Jack Sims for the Cumbrians’ top scorer to make anything of it. Sutton bit back moments later and were almost punished by ghosts of their past as ex Blue Jayden Harris broke the Carlisle offside trap to get away down the left flank before squaring to fellow ex Carlisle man Ashley Nadesan but he somehow poked his shot past the post from just outside the 6 yard box.

    Harris was lively again mere minutes later as him and Ndjuku linked up well in the attack before Harris volleyed a shot from just outside the area that was well tipped away by Breeze.

    HALF TIME: Sutton United 0 – 0 Carlisle United

    After a largely drab opening half, the U’s made sure there would be no repeat in the second, finding an early breakthrough as defender Edon Pruti rose above Carlisle’s defence just outside the 6 yard box to nod home a Jack Wadham corner. Morison’s side were clearly spurred on by this opener and they almost got in behind Carlisle’s backline again with a long ball over the top towards the ever threatening Njoku but Breeze rushed well outside his area quickly enough to stop the ex Cambridge man from getting onto the ball.

    The game really turned into an end to end affair from this point however Carlisle were still struggling to create any clear cut openings despite strengthening their forward line after subbing on Georgie Kelly for Whelan, their first half chance of the 2nd half came in the 63rd minute as a Linney effort was well blocked on the edge of the area before falling to Harvey Macadam, but his volleyed effort was put well wide of Sims’ goal. The hosts looked far more likely to bag the next goal and broke forward in the 76th minute after Jack Ellis was brushed off the ball in midfield and Njoku got away down the left flank before slipping the ball inside to Harris, but his shot towards the bottom left corner was well turned away by Breeze.

    Morison’s side continued to look for the 2nd goal to seal their first 3 points of the season and Pruti almost doubled his tally, again heading towards goal from a corner but this time seeing his effort tipped away by Breeze. Carlisle weren’t completely out of the game however as a Wearne free kick from the left flank isn’t dealt with by the Sutton defence and the ball fell to Archie Davies inside the area but his shot on the half turn wasn’t strong enough to threaten Sims in the Sutton goal.

    The hosts deservedly doubled their advantage moments later as Thomas misjudged the flight of a long ball, allowing substitute David Ogbonna to nip in behind him and dink the ball over the onrushing Breeze’s head to make it 2-0 with just 8 minutes of normal time remaining.

    The second goal seemed to inject some life into the Carlisle side and they almost nicked a goal back in the 90th minute as Kelly capitalised on substitute Siju Odelusi’s poor attempt to shield the ball back to Sims, but Carlisle’s number 9 could only stab the ball against the post. Kelly wasn’t to be denied however and he did get a goal back in the 4th minute of added time as a chipped ball in by Thomas found the ex Rotherham man who fired in from close range.

    United pressed hard to get a late equaliser and almost found one as a Cameron Harper corner caused chaos in the Sutton area after the initial clearance fell to Stephen Wearne, who volleyed into a crowd of players before the ball was eventually cleared as far as Linney, but the Cumbrians’ top scorer could only again fire over with his left foot from just inside the area as Sutton sealed a deserved 3 points.

    FULL TIME: Sutton United 2 – 1 Carlisle United – Pruti (49′), Ogbonna (82), – Kelly (90+4)

    Sutton: Sims, Phipps, Taylor, Eccleston, Pruti, Dabre (Simper 63′), Boutin, Wadham (Odelusi 63′), Njoku (Ogbonna 78′), Harris, Nadesan. Subs Not Used: Aziaya, Crichlow, Jones, White

    Carlisle: Breeze, Davies, Thomas, Mugabi, Harper, Ellis, Macadam (Grant 69′), Whelan (Kelly 55′), Wearne, Linney, Armstrong (Ajiboye 69′) Subs Not Used: Lewis, Hayden, Murray, Williams.

    How Did United Perform?

    This has to be seen as a good couple of steps back for Carlisle and Mark Hughes, after such a convincing 5-0 victory against a Braintree side who had started the season relatively well, to follow it up with a defeat against a Sutton team who had made such a poor start to their campaign is a huge disappointment. Both sides were poor in the first half overall but Sutton came out a much better side in the second whereas Carlisle never really got going until they were already 2 goals behind.

    The midfield never really got a good hold of the ball barring the opening few minutes of the game and really struggled to make anything happen going forward either, defensive issues again reared their ugly head as well after two clean sheets, as poor set piece marking and a horrible mistake by Terrell Thomas gifted goals to the home side.

    Credit to Sutton and Steve Morison as they played their counter attacking game really well, utilising their pacey forwards, but Carlisle were too easily outfought and while it is their first defeat of the season, they must arrest these inconsistencies if they’re to make a real charge at making a return to League 2, as they have a lot of strong sides charging alongside them.

    Carlisle Player Ratings:

    Breeze – 7 (MotM): Think he deserves credit as he kept the score down with a couple of really good saves and was decisive to rush off his line to prevent Njoku from getting on the end of a dangerous long ball.

    Davies – 5: Struggled with the pace of Njoku and didn’t threaten as much going forward as he has done in prior games, probably needs a natural winger in front of him to link up with.

    Mugabi – 6: Didn’t do too much wrong for the most part but will maybe be disappointed to have conceded the opening goal from a corner.

    Thomas – 4: Sadly a return to poor form for Thomas, started off positively and won most of his aerial battles but a few poor headed clearances and a woeful mistake for Sutton’s second, continues to struggle with balls over the top.

    Harper – 6: Largely quiet game for him, caused trouble with a corner late on, still an argument that Carlisle need to improve in this area.

    Macadam – 5: Ineffective most of the game and never really had any impact, surprised he stayed on for as long as he did.

    Whelan – 6: The best of United’s midfield, kept possession well when he got on the ball, probably shouldn’t have been subbed off when he was.

    Ellis – 6: Worked hard as he always does and broke up the play well a couple of times but still question marks as to whether he should be playing in the midfield consistently.

    Linney – 6: Unable to replicate his heroics against Braintree, no shortage of efforts to drive at his man and make something happen but was largely wayward with his shooting.

    Wearne – 5: Energetic but sadly mostly anonymous, not quite direct enough with his play to function effectively as a winger in my opinion, needs to play as the tip of a midfield 3 or he seems to struggle to impact the game.

    Armstrong – 6: Worked hard and forced a couple of errors from Sutton’s defenders but will be extremely disappointed about his final ball on the counter attack towards the end of the first half.

    Subs:

    Grant – 5: Didn’t really make a difference, still doesn’t look totally match fit to me.

    Kelly – 7: Took him a bit to get going but took his goal well and was United’s main threat in the second half.

    Ajiboye – 6: Was positive when he got on the ball, could potentially look at starting him in the next game for more natural width and directness.

    Please note these are Craig’s opinions and nothing official!

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_tv

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    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

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    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

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  • Sutton United v Carlisle United Preview

    On Saturday Mark Hughes undefeated Carlisle United make another long trip to the capital, this time to take on Steve Morison’s Sutton United.

    The two sides have had contrasting starts to the season with Carlisle taking eleven points from a possible fifteen but Sutton having only take two points from the same amount of games.

    How Have Both Teams Started The Season?

    Sutton began their their season with an excellent draw away to York City, they then followed that up with a goalless draw at home to Solihull Moors and since then they’ve lost three games in a row to Forest Green, Scunthorpe and most recently Rochdale.

    Sutton are currently in 22nd place with just the two points from their first five games.

    Carlisle United started the season with a comfortable 2-0 away win against Woking, they then flowed that up with two disappointing performances and draws at home to Boreham Wood and Solihull Moors. the Cumbrians have now won back-to-back games over the bank holiday weekend against Wealdstone and most recently beat Braintree 5-0 at Brunton Park.

    Carlisle United are currently in 3rd place with eleven points from their first five games.

    Players To Watch

    Sutton have to former Carlisle United players in their squad, one is midfielder Jayden Harris but the first player to watch for them is striker Ashley Nadesan. The former Gillingham, Fleetwood and Crawley striker also had a successful spell at Brunton Park back in 2017 through until 2019. His forward play is one of work rate, great link up play and will take his chances when they come his way.

    The second player to watch is forward is Brandon Njoku, the former Cambridge man is Sutton’s top scorer so far this season with two goals. He will either start alongside Nadesan or will look to impact the game from the bench. He will be player that the Carlisle defence will have to keep a close eye on.

    Carlisle United players to watch have been different every week but it makes sense to pick the hat-trick hero from the Braintree game. Regan Linney has scored five goals in five games for the Cumbrians so far this season and will be a constant attacking threat down the left mainly but could switch to the right at times. His direct running and taking on the full backs will be one of Carlisle’s main attacking weapons.

    The second player to watch is Luke Armstrong, he and Linney have built a great relationship up front for Mark Hughes’ side and Armstrong has two goals and one assist in his five games so far this season. His endless work rate, his runs off the ball to create space for others is a huge part of Carlisle’s attack. If he gets the right service he will be a massive threat in front of goal and has that finishing touch when needed.

    My Predicted Carlisle United Eleven

    Breeze, Davies, Mugabi, Thomas, Harper, Ellis, Macadam, Whelan, Luamba, Linney, Armstrong.

    Why change a winning team? I think possibly the only change that may be made is in midfield because away from home Hughes will want to be more compact so I think he may drop Wearne or Whelan and bring Macadam back in but other than that why change a team that has won their most recent game 5-0 and are undefeated so far this season?!

    Score Prediction

    Sutton United 1-2 Carlisle United

    I think Sutton will pose a threat going forward but if Carlisle can defend like they have done in recent games they should be able to keep them at arms length and the attacking threat of Linney, Armstrong and Luamba will cause a lot of problems for the Sutton defence especially on the break and that could be key in the Cumbrians coming away with the three points in this one.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_tv

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    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

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    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

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  • The Tremendous Terell Thomas

    One of the standout performers in Carlisle United’s recent games is captain Terell Thomas. His defending and performances have come under much scrutiny in his time at Brunton Park but recently he’s been vastly improved and one of the best players in Carlisle’s last three games.

    A Closer Look At Terell Thomas

    Since his arrival at Brunton Park from Charlton Athletic in 2024 his defensive partnership with Sam Lavelle and later Aaron Hayden received plenty of criticism and rightfully so. Defensive errors, not doing the basics and gifting opposition teams goals were synonymous with Carlisle’s defence over the last couple of years and one of the main reasons the Cumbrians have had to go through back-to-back relegations. All of this wasn’t just on Thomas but with Lavelle having moved on and Hayden being dropped that only leaves Thomas in the team every week and supporters rightfully had some concerns.

    How Has Thomas Performed?

    At the start of the season with the additions of Morgan Feeney and Bevis Mugabi you’d have been right in think that Mark Hughes wasn’t happy with his options at centre back and with Thomas having a couple of shaky games against Woking and Boreham Wood it looked a certainty that he was going to lose his place when Feeney was fully fit.

    The Solihull Moors game was where everything change for Terrell Thomas, the performance as a team wasn’t the best but Thomas managed to get a captain’s goal and pinch us a point from that game and from then he’s not looked back. Thomas was outstanding against Wealdstone in a hard fought 1-0 away win and was one of the standout performers against Braintree in a more straight forward 5-0 win over the bank holiday weekend.

    Thomas seems to have his confidence back, his first touch has improved, his positioning has been incredible at times and his ability to read the game has meant him and Bevis Mugabi have build a solid defensive partnership and now Mark Hughes’ side not only have back-to-back victories but also back-to-back clean sheets and three clean sheets in five games and Thomas has played every minute of every game and has been trusted with the captain’s armband by Mark Hughes.

    Why Am I Writing This Article?

    I have written this article because I firmly believe players get a lot of criticism and we are quick to do that so I think it’s only fair we are even handed so we should praise them with the same energy.

    Thomas has been excellent in recent matches as have the team as a whole and long may it continue.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

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  • Carlisle United 5-0 Braintree Town Review

    This afternoon, Carlisle United produced a five star performance to beat Braintree Town 5-0 at Brunton Park. A hat-trick from Regan Linney, an own goal and a late goal from Jack Ellis were the difference.

    An incredible afternoon in the sunshine at Brunton Park for Mark Hughes, his team and the Carlisle United supporters. Braintree will be doing their best to forget today’s game pretty quickly.

    Match Review

    Carlisle came out of the blocks really quickly and were unlucky to not take the lead in the first minute as Regan Linney’s deflected shot was well saved by Braintree keeper Mason Terry.

    The home side’s early domination continued as Archie Davies had a shot comfortably saved before Luke Armstrong’s header was brilliantly kept out by Mason Terry once again.

    In the 15th minute after brilliant work from Junior Luamba, Stephen Wearne passed to Regan Linney and his curling effort from outside the box was curled to perfection and beat Mason Terry all ends up and gave Mark Hughes’ team a deserved lead.

    Just before the half hour mark Regan Linney threaded a good ball through for Luke Armstrong to cross in to the danger area and it was deflected home by Braintree defender George Langston to double the Cumbrians’ lead.

    The game slowed down from its frantic start but Carlisle continued to put pressure on the Braintree defence through Luamba and Linney mainly but a thoroughly exciting first half from a Carlisle perspective.

    HT Carlisle United 2-0 Braintree Town

    The home side created the first chance of the second half as Callum Whelan’s long range effort was well saved by Mason Terry.

    Terell Thomas nearly scored the one of the great Brunton Park goals with a stunning 40 yard strike brilliantly tipped over by Mason Terry.

    In the 52nd minute Callum Whelan was brought down in the box and Carlisle were awarded a penalty. Regan Linney calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to extended the blues’ lead.

    Just after the hour mark Luke Armstrong found himself one on one with Mason Terry after a great pass from Regan Linney but was denied by a smart save from the Braintree keeper.

    Regan Linney completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute with a brilliant front post header from a Cameron Harper corner.

    Ten minutes from time a corner was headed down by Morgan Feeney and nodded home by Jack Ellis to make it 5-0.

    Carlisle comfortably saw out the rest of the game and were more than worthy of their 5-0 victory.

    FT Carlisle United 5-0 Braintree Town

    How Did Carlisle Perform?

    First half got off to an absolute flyer. Regan Linney set the tone early on and gave Carlisle a deserted lead with a great finish. The midriff kept the ball well and stopped anything Braintree tried to build in attack and especially Wearne and Whelan were posing a threat going forward as well. Defensively the home side were comfortable in the first half with Terell Thomas and Bevis Mugabi handling John Akinde very well in the first half.

    Second half, Mark Hughes sent his players out with the same fast and strong start to the half and the pressure on Braintree was applied from the first minute of the half. Defence were comfortable again in the second half and the midfield were calm and composed with the ball even with the substitutions.

    My Carlisle United Player Ratings

    Gabe Breeze -7- didn’t have a lot to do, won’t have an easier afternoon all season.

    Archie Davies -7- solid in defence when needed and was a constant attacking threat when Carlisle went forward.

    Bevis Mugabi -7- very solid at the back, kept Akinde very quiet along with Thomas.

    Terell Thomas -8- absolutely outstanding for the second game in a row. Brilliant last ditch tackle in the second half, kept their frontmen quiet and nearly scored a 40 yard screamer as well.

    Cameron Harper -7- put some dangerous crosses in to the box in the first half and second half done his job very well.

    Jack Ellis -7.5- a very comfortable day in midfield for Ellis and he kept the ball well at times. He also scored Carlisle’s fifth goal.

    Callum Whelan -7.5- got in to some dangerous positions, could’ve had a couple of goals if it wasn’t for a great block and save from Braintree.

    Stephen Wearne -6.5- picked up some dangerous positions but lacked a final pass was missing at times. A good shift for the team though.

    Junior Luamba -7.5- a constant threat down the wing and covered a lot of ground tracking back when needed as well.

    Regan Linney -10- the hat-trick hero, brilliant opener, took the penalty well and an excellent near post header for his third. Ran his socks off and was a constant threat on top of the three goals as well. Easily man of the match.

    Luke Armstrong -8- never stopped running, created spaces for Linney and Luamba to run in to and forced the own goal.

    SUBSTITUTES

    Georgie Kelly -6- held the ball up well at times and could’ve got on the scoresheet as well.

    Josh Grant -6- broke the play up and defended well when he came on.

    David Ajiboye -6- looked dangerous at times but still looks low on confidence when running with the ball.

    Morgan Feeney -6- done is job well when he came on alongside Thomas.

    Ethan Robson -6- had a part to play in the fifth goal and could’ve got on the scoresheet himself late on.

    Please note these are the ratings of Dan and nobody else.

    A Message From Paddock Perception

    We are working alongside Liam and his YouTube channel Blue Army TV this season to make sure we bring you the best Carlisle United content we possibly can. You can subscribe to his channel and follow him on X, his handles are below:

    X – @blue_army_tv

    YouTube – @BlueArmyTVchannel

    Another partnership Paddock Perception has is with Carlisle United YouTube channel CU04, they have amazing content on their channel and we are looking forward to working with them this season. You can follow them here:

    X – @CU04_YOUTUBE

    YouTube – @CU04

    Thank you everyone for reading Paddock Perception, your support means everything! Please don’t forget you can follow Dan and Craig on X for more football content:

    @dan_batemannn

    @CraigWL1997