Bitter taste for Latics

NEAT FEET . . . Filipe Morais (left), who proved a thorn in the side of the Carlisle defence, causes more mayhem with his subtle skills.

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Injury-time penalty such a sickener
IN AN alternative universe – one in which Athletic always hold on to their leads – the npower League One table has a startling look to it.

Sitting proudly at the summit on 62 points, Paul Dickov’s swaggering side have caused shockwaves throughout the division.

Even media darlings Brighton can’t compete with the new title favourites when it comes to favourable coverage.

Gus Poyet’s gang are playing second fiddle, with Athletic instead forming the subject of a number of glowing national features from impressed newspaper and television journalists.

Dickov can’t even walk into his office any more without first kicking out of the way one of a host of manager-of-the-month trophies.

And there are unconfirmed reports that some young Manchester City fans are being lost to the Premier League giants as a result of the superior results up the road at Boundary Park.

If only.

Back in the real world, the shedding of two more points - seemingly all but secured in a startlingly one-sided contest at Brunton Park - is the latest in a long line of such disappointments this season.

This one was on a par with the Exeter horror show.

Up two goals thanks to a smart Aidan White finish and a brilliant header from the irrepressible Chris Taylor, Athletic were absolutely cruising against a Carlisle outfit who had previously won their last three matches in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet every time.

Athletic should definitely have been at least three up after only 36 minutes.

To a man, Athletic’s bench clasped hands to heads as striker Oumare Tounkara again provided evidence that the quality of his finishing can be inversely proportional to the excellence of his general marauding forward play.

Six yards out and with the entire goal to aim at, the big man horribly skied his volley over the bar when it was easier to find the net.

The visitors weren’t quite as dynamic in the second half, but still created presentable chances on the break.

Carlisle, on the other hand, simply couldn’t find a way through.

At one point in the second period, one particularly good-looking member of the crammed-in press corps issued the immortal words, “I know it is tempting fate, but I can’t see any way back for Carlisle here”.

Abusive emails to the usual address, please.

Francois Zoko set the collies wobbling when side-footing home a pull-back after Ben Marshall had skinned Paul Black.

Aside from a Frankie Simek shot which nicked a flake of paint off the goal frame and a Lubo Michalik drive which forced a terrific reaction save from Ben Amos, the home team didn’t create much more to worry Athletic.

Then came the fateful penalty, in the third minute of added time.

It was doubtful that Paul Black actually committed a foul on Zoko as the pair went for a loose ball; doubtful the challenge took place inside the area; and certainly doubtful enough for a penalty not to be awarded.

Unfortunately, assistant referee Andy Newell showed far less doubt than when dallying comically over a throw-in decision in the first half and signalled for a spot-kick.

James Berrett smashed the ball into the net to leave Athletic frustrated.

New striker Reuben Reid started on the bench for Athletic, along with now-permanent signing Cedric Evina.

Ritchie Jones was also among the substitutes as Athletic made one change to the team which drew 1-1 at Walsall, with White – now with the club until the end of the season – starting on the right of midfield.

Carlisle began the game confidently but it was Athletic – kicking towards the end of the pitch caked in ice – who made the early breakthrough.

Taylor picked up a loose ball on the left wing and swung in an excellent cross to the middle that was flicked on by Filipe Morais, perfectly into the path of White who controlled and finished with minimum fuss.

Zoko headed wide before Taylor had a half-chance to make it two, striking a snap-shot well over the bar.

Athletic’s second came through a superb Taylor header. Kieran Lee drove a cross in from deep on the right wing and the Athletic winger glanced his header from the penalty spot perfectly to sneak the ball past Adam Collin in the home goal.

The visitors continued to look potent and despite Tounkara’s awful miss – and a decent handball shout against a Carlisle defender three minutes before the break – the visitors entered the half-time break in command.

Carlisle made two changes at the start of the second half as Paul Thirlwell and Joe Dudgeon came on for Peter Murphy and Tom Taiwo and had a just before the hour when Simek hit his 20-yarder narrowly wide.

But apart from an Amos flap where he completely missed his punch off Dudgeon’s long throw, there was precious little danger for Athletic.

Zoko’s strike came out of the blue and it was followed by two good efforts from Morais.

Andy Todd was introduced to steady Athletic’s ship further and Reid also came on for the tiring Tounkara as the visitors tried to see out the game.

Sadly, from an Athletic point of view, the late spot-kick drama meant that it wasn’t to be.