I always enjoy reading Jon Coleman's Carlisle reports and articles. The comments on the Stags are interesting with us being accused of using the Dark Arts or a bit of professional shithousery. I don't mind this as it has worked well for the likes of Derek Adams, Gareth Ainsworth and the Cowleys. Steve Evans, of course, was usually a master at this.
I said last season that David Flitcroft seemed to lack the killer instinct or the necessary tactical nous to get us over the line. Sometimes in sport you need to be a little bit nasty or malicious to succeed otherwise other teams and managers will get the better of you.
"Four days before this defeat, Steven Pressley’s side had made merry on Barnsley’s green acres. The home team tried to play constructively, offered no apparent gamesmanship and were skilfully picked off by the Blues. Then came Mansfield, two levels down from the Tykes. They slowed the game down, hit the turf repeatedly and made Carl Boyeson whistle so often one thought the official was auditioning for One Man and His Dog. It was tactical, it was cunning, it was on the edge of acceptability at times and some way over it at others."
https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/foo ... ch-report/