Foxes stung as Bees steal win

Mar 27 2011 Sunday Sun

CARLISLE let the points slip as they allowed Brentford to snatch victory from the jaws of a stalemate.

The Bees took advantage of a Carlisle side who couldn’t finish as they sealed the points with two goals in the last 16 minutes of a game that could have gone either way.

And with the teams due to meet again at Wembley in seven days’ time, both managers can feel confident that the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is there for the taking.

“The dressing room was disappointed at full time because the players know that this was a game we could and probably should have won,” said Carlisle manager Greg Abbott.

“We’ve played some really good football and got into good areas, and we have let ourselves down with the final pass or the decision making in and around their box.

“People have said that this was a dry run for Wembley, but I don’t think that anyone at Brentford or Carlisle would think that way.

“The games are completely different, but we can go there with confidence next week having seen plenty of positives from the way we played in this one.”

Bees’ boss Nicky Forster said: “Carlisle are a good side and we probably got our first goal against the run of play.

“However, goals change games and there was only one winner after we scored the first.

“All I can say about next week is that we set targets at this club.

“We have 52 points after this, which is one target reached in terms of league safety, so we can now look to next Sunday as a chance to achieve something else.”

Craig Curran missed the best of the Cumbrians’ chances to take the lead on 73 minutes, a mis-hit lob that edged just wide of the target.

And Brentford made him pay immediately as German Under-19 international Jeff Schlupp grabbed his first-ever professional goals to give his side their unlikely cushion.

“It’s frustrating because we had battled hard to get on top,” said Carlisle midfielder Tom Taiwo.

“It seemed like a matter of time before we would score, so to lose two goals like we did was a massive blow.

“We played well though, and we know if we do the same kind of things against them next week then we’ll be giving ourselves a chance.”

A thundering Lubomir Michalik free-kick two minutes from time was too little too late as Carlisle left the field of play to ponder missed chances and defensive lapses as the reasons for their third consecutive away defeat.

“We have Yeovil on Tuesday night, and we want to go there and give a good account of ourselves,” added Abbott.

“Once that one is done, the preparation can start again for our next meeting with Brentford.

“The memory of last season’s final [against Southampton] is still fresh, and it would be really nice if we could put that behind us with a decent performance and a victory.

“All we can do is stay positive and make sure that we are in the right frame of mind, and hopefully our football will do the rest.”