Carlisle head coach Mark Hughes promised his team were “still fighting” after securing a late point in a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Accrington.
Callum Whelan rifled home a superb strike in the second minute of stoppage time to cancel out Sonny Aljofree’s 70th-minute opener for Stanley. The visitors also hit the woodwork through Georgie Kelly.
The result left the 23rd-placed Cumbrians four points adrift of Tranmere, and six behind Accrington, with two games to go.
Hughes admitted the 3-2 win over Port Vale on Good Friday, when goalkeeper Gabe Breeze saved a late penalty, affected their Easter Monday performance.
“We just didn’t have that sharpness,” the Welshman said. “We have to accept that the Port Vale game took a lot out of us mentally, physically and emotionally.
“Saying that, they have had one shot on target and scored.
“We hit the post, scored a great goal and had two good opportunities, their keeper has saved two or three and overall and it is a game we could have won.
“I feel if we had two or three days to prepare like we normally do, we would have won that comfortably.
“We showed good character and courage to get a point that might be really important for us, so we will take it and we move on. We are still fighting.
“The belief is still there, we are still in a situation where we can affect our own futures. We take that.
“It’s another point on the board. Will it be enough? We will find out.”
Stanley need one point for survival – although they have a better goal difference than the teams below them.
Manager John Doolan said: “The size of the game, the consequences of it showed in the first half.
“We weren’t happy with how we played in the first half, we looked fatigued in our decision-making and I couldn’t wait to get them in at half-time.
“We were better in the second half and Ben Woods has that quality, he has whipped a ball in and Sonny Aljofree has got on the end of it.
“Then at the end, we are defending too deep, perhaps nervousness has come in and six minutes of added time has given their fans a lift.
“We went deeper, there are a couple of near-misses, they had the momentum and we have to deal with that on the pitch. We have young lads who are learning on the job.
“We have dropped 21 points from a winning position this season and we should be further up the table but we are where we are.
“It has got to be done, mathematically. We could have done that today, but I can’t be too flat.
“I think the last few minutes sum our season up. We have had it too often.
“This has been a learning process and it should make us stronger.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
