Carlisle United manager Mark Hughes has piled praise on striker Georgie Kelly after his goal kept the Blues firmly in touch at the bottom, as reported by the official Carlisle United website.
Kelly scored his fourth goal in three matches to secure a vital victory against promotion-chasing Port Vale.
Striker Enjoying His Football
Hughes shared his delight with forward Georgie Kelly after the Irishman notched yet another goal in his side’s fight for Football League survival.
The Carlisle boss said:
“Georgie was once again playing out his skin. I mean, the guy hasn’t had anything like the amount of football that his talent deserves in recent times.”
“So I think he’s just enjoying being out there playing, plays with freedom, plays with intelligence as well, understands where the goal is, brings people in to play.”
The former Bradford City manager was hugely complimentary of the ex-Rotherham United saying this of this performance:
“So I thought it was a complete striker’s performance today.”
Manager Delighted For His Players
The importance of the game against Vale can’t be overstated as a defeat would have meant a seven-point gap to safety with just nine left to play for.
Instead, United head to Accrington Stanley on Easter Monday with the chance to close the gap to Tranmere Rovers to just a solitary point.
Hughes said:
“I’m delighted for the lads. I thought it was a game of ups and downs towards the end, but we fully deserved the win in my view.”
“The performance in the first half was excellent, as good as we played. I feel it’s just a continuation of where we left off from the last two wins. So yeah, it was great.”
“I’m really pleased with the level that we showed in that first half. We’re going up against the top team in the division. Second half, they have to change their shape, change their personnel, because they couldn’t get a foothold in the game.”
Late Penalty Drama
Having been 3-0 behind, the Valiants had got back into the game and had the chance to equalise from the spot in the 93rd minute.
Lorent Tolaj stepped up only to have his kick saved by Carlisle keeper Gabe Breeze. Hughes was pleased with the save and his goalie’s preparation.
“I think he knew which way he was going to go. He gets told the likelihood of which side, whichever individual takes the penalty, that’s something that we do in terms of his preparation.”
“So, yeah, guess right, guess correctly, remember the information he’d been given. So, yeah, great to see.”
Writer’s View
Carlisle now has the momentum to get out of what looked like an impossible situation. Monday’s game against Stanley is huge for their prospects and a win will pile the pressure on Tranmere Rovers as the league goes to the final week.
