CITY got one over Carlisle in their first meeting since the 2023 play-off heartache.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER watched an exciting encounter at Valley Parade yesterday and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Andy Cook has had to wait to break his duck for City against Carlisle – but he finally made it count at the eighth attempt with both goals to send another former club packing.

Richie Smallwood was also very good as a commanding presence in City's midfield and at the heart of most things.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Harry Lewis knew he had no chance when Cook rose unhindered to power home Tyreik Wright’s cross for City’s winner.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Sam Walker won’t need telling but it was an awful and uncharacteristic error that gifted Carlisle their equaliser as he allowed the ball to slip through his grasp on the goal-line as he went to catch it above his head.

TACTICS

City made four changes from the side that started their previous league game at Grimsby.

Loan duo Olly Sanderson and Cheick Diabate came in for Calum Kavanagh and the injured Aden Baldwin.

Jamie Walker and Clarke Oduor got the nod as the two “number eights” in place of Bobby Pointon and Alex Pattison. Vadaine Oliver returned on the bench after his recent concussion absence.

REFEREE: Paul Howard (London)

BOOKINGS: Byrne, Kelly, Diabate (City); Neal, Barclay, Davies, McGeouch, Devitt (Carlisle)

ATTENDANCE: 18,041 (1,756 from Carlisle)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 4 Carlisle 6

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 5 Carlisle 3

CORNERS: City 14 Carlisle 10

FOULS: City 3 Carlisle 5

POSSESSION %: City 46 Carlisle 54

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: S Walker 5, Diabate 7, Byrne 7, Kelly 6, Halliday 7, Smallwood 8, Wright 6 (Shepherd 90min), J Walker 7, Oduor 6 (Pointon 65min, 7), Sanderson 7 (Oliver 89min), Cook 8 (Pattison 89min). Subs (not used): Smith, Benn, Doyle.

CARLISLE: Lewis 6, Davies 7, Thomas 6, Williams n/a (Harper 11min, 7), Mellish 5, Neal 6 (Armstrong 76min), Jones 7 (McGeouch 76min), Vela 6, Biggins 7, Sadi 7, Wyke 5. Subs (not used): Barclay, O’Donoghue, Lavelle, Breeze.