MATCH REPORT: Crawley 0 - 0 United

Stats and facts from the game

Carlisle United know that they must win on Saturday, and hope other results go their way, following their share of the spoils with Crawley Town on Tuesday night.

The Cumbrians played well but lacked that cutting edge as they often went for a broke in the latest of their 'do or die' fixtures.

United overloaded the midfield in the opening exchanges and it almost paid dividends when Potts burst through two challenges. It eventually broke for Amoo but his shot was blocked by Walsh.

Amoo was the danger man again moments later when Chantler fed a neat pass into the box. The wide man turned his marker but the cross was just too deep for Guy. 

Carlisle kept the pressure on and brave defending was needed as Berrett and Guy created space for an attack. Noble, Chantler and Amoo all had half volleys charged down as the red shirts put their bodies on the line. It was all about the visitors and a dipping cross from Symington had to be tipped over the bar as it threatened to drop into the net. 

The Red Devils created their first real chance of the night on 14 minutes when McFadzean nipped in to nick the ball off Guy in the centre circle. He went for glory from distance but it was well wide of the mark. It sparked a better spell for the home side and a back heel from Torres put Tubbs into the area. His shot had venom and Pickford had to drop low to palm it away. 

Torres started another good Crawley move with a pass to send Proctor on the overlap but Tubbs was off balance as he made a move for the near post. He got there ahead of Brown but he poked his effort wide. 

United weathered the period of pressure and mounted an attack of their own when Guy stole possession on the half way line. Amoo took over but his cross was blocked and the subsequent corner was eventually cleared. 

The action switched back to the other end and Tubbs showed for it as the ball bobbled awkwardly on the edge of the box. Brown did well to shepherd him away but the livewire striker regained control and forced Pickford into another full length save. 

Carlisle huffed and puffed but an error from Brown, as he tried to swipe the ball clear, handed Proctor a good opening just before half time. The big wide man took two touches and was disappointed when he sent a poor effort into the stands. 

Crawley went close in their very next attack when Proctor was left all alone deep inside the United half. He spotted Tubbs on a run but the first time shot from the front man whistled just past the Carlisle post. 

The Cumbrians ended the half on the front foot and Liam Noble typified his thirst for the fight when he was bundled to the floor just outside the area. He somehow completed three challenges, whilst sat on the ground, and Drury was needed to intervene as Berrett tried to capitalise with a shot on the spin. The touch was enough to send it out for a corner. 

Crawley picked up the pace from the restart but a header from Torres from a Bulman delivery failed to trouble the keeper. And Crawley came forward again when a wild challenge from Torres left Symington on the floor. The referee waved play on and Proctor wheeled away in frustration as he sent another weak shot right at Pickford. 

Carlisle responded with a run of corners and they almost grabbed the lead when Crawley failed to deal with a dipping Symington cross. Amoo controlled it and shot low, and the officials ignored the appeals for handball as Noble took over. His shot took from the edge of the area took the slightest of touches off a red shirt but that was enough to send it onto the bar.

Proctor should have done better when he twisted free with the goal at his mercy, as the game opened up, but he was off-balance as he sent another shot into the roof of the stands. 

The Cumbrians started to throw men forward and a lively run from Potts ended with a blistering shot which Jones had to touch round the post. Noble was there for the corner that followed but Jones was again well placed to deal with his attempted curler into the top corner.

Crawley spurned good chances of their won and Tubbs was guilty of a terrible finish when he was sent one on one by a ball over the top from Proctor. He had the goal at his mercy but he rushed the volley and missed the target by a large margin.

United pushed up as they went for the win and that left gaps at the back which the red shirts continually tried to exploit. Proctor should have done better yet again when he appeared to have plenty of time to line one, but he hesitated and his low shot was saved by an agile dive from the ever-alert Jordan Pickford. 

Tubbs and Connolly went close as the home chances kept flowing but they didn't have it all their own way in the closing stages as Symington and Byrne buzzed around the back line in a bid to find a way through. 

Crawley closed them out, though, with some dogged defending and all that was left for the visitors to do was to thank the travelling fans for yet another amazing show of support.

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Bookings

Crawley - Tubbs (76)

United - Berrett (86), Potts (90), Meppen-Walter (90), Pickford (90)

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Teams

Crawley - Jones, Sadler, Connolly, McFadzean, Torres, Drury, Walsh, Proctor, Bulman, Tubbs, Edwards. Subs - Essam, Fallon, Monakana, Maddison, Dicker, Isaacs, Richefond.

United - Pickford, Symington, Chimbonda (Byrne 68), O’Hanlon, Brown, Chantler, Potts, Berrett, Noble (Meppen-Walter 89), Amoo, Guy (Dempsey 80). Subs - Fleming, Robson, Redmond, Pearson.

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Referee - Mr Rob Lewis

Attendance - 3,271 (226 away fans)
Read Time: 5 mins