John McGreal hails Colchester after late equaliser seals Carlisle point

Posted Sunday, February 24, 2019 by PA

Colchester head coach John McGreal was pleased to see his side battle back for a point in their 1-1 draw with fellow League Two play-off hopefuls Carlisle United.

Frankie Kent headed home an 84th-minute equaliser from close range to rescue a point for the hosts, after goalkeeper Adam Collin had pushed away substitute Brennan Dickenson’s cross in the area.

Hallam Hope had earlier given Carlisle a 57th-minute lead when he turned home from close range, after Mark Cullen had helped on Callum O’Hare’s cross.

The draw lifts Colchester into fifth place and boss McGreal said: “It’s a great point knowing that they were beneath us. It was a proper football match and it was a game of chess.

“They were counter-acting what we were doing and we had to counter-act what they tried to do.

“There were some different game plans out there but there was some terrific football.

“For division two (League Two), it was two great footballing sides at this level and some great quality of play.

“We were huffing and puffing and playing a lot of the good football but they were still dangerous on the counter attack.

“I wanted us to stick to our principals, continue to play and get our big players on the ball and that’s what happened.

“Chances were at a premium but Frank was there, Johnny on the spot to knock it in for us.

“There’s goals throughout the team and Frank has been able to get a few.”

Carlisle had the better chances prior to their opener, with both Hope and Regan Slater denied by goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

But Colchester had opportunities towards the end, with Collin denying Luke Prosser and Sammie Szmodics firing inches wide in stoppage-time.

Carlisle manager Steven Pressley said: “In the first half, we were very much in control of the game.

“They had periods of possession but we never looked like we were going to concede and we always looked very dangerous on the counter attack.

“We had three or four of the big chances in the first half.

“We started the second half very well and for 15 minutes, we did a lot of the things that we’d talked about.

“We got ourselves in front but in the last half-hour, we didn’t show composure under pressure because while the changes that they made were positive changes, they were changes that suited us.

“We knew that if we could absorb the pressure and then show composure, it was on to counter attack.

“But we didn’t show the composure in the last 20 minutes that would have seen us out and winning the game.

“We defended well and had some good opportunities but the last half-hour was a disappointment.”