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Curle: We've got momentum

Image: Keith Curle: Carlisle gaining momentum

Keith Curle believes Charlie Wyke's double strike in Carlisle's 2-0 win over Tranmere gives them momentum to charge up the table.

Carlisle boss Keith Curle believes Charlie Wyke's double strike in their 2-0 victory over Tranmere should give his side the momentum to start a charge up the table. Wyke struck twice inside four minutes to help the Cumbrians to victory, despite ending the game with ten men. Carlisle lost Kyle Dempsey late on as tempers boiled over but that couldn't dent Curle's satisfaction as they leapfrogged Tranmere in the league placings. "We knew what to expect and we made sure the players were prepared for confrontation all over the park," said Curle. "The players did their jobs individually and they got their reward as a team. We had to combat what what Tranmere threw at us and we were prepared for a battle. "Tranmere cause teams problems and we needed to match them. We stayed strong defensively and we played with an attacking threat which signifies our intent. We have good foundations to build on and we want to achieve success. "Carlisle United is a good football club to be involved in. There is a good work ethic and we are creating more belief. "Now we need to try and create our own momentum and move up the table because we know we are heading in the right direction." United keeper Mark Gillespie tipped Rory Donnelly's curling effort over the bar in the 15th minute before Owain Fon Williams made a smart one-handed stop to deny Antony Sweeney at the other end. He was forced into action again when Steven Rigg arrowed a header towards the top corner from Danny Grainger's cross. Gillespie then turned Jennison Myrie-Williams 29th-minute strike around the foot of the Carlisle post and Lee Molyneux saw his shot saved from an identical position just before the break. Power sent a shot wide soon after the second half began but it was Carlisle who went in front when Wyke ushered the ball inside Danny Holmes on the edge of the Tranmere penalty area before curling it beyond Fon Williams and inside the far post in the 65th minute. And Wyke doubled the Cumbrians' lead just four minutes later when he slid in to take advantage of some lacklustre Rovers defending before Kyle Dempsey was sent off after picking up a second yellow. "We are disappointed," admitted Tranmere boss Micky Adams. "We didn't really test their goalkeeper enough and we are unhappy about what we produced going forward. "We started well and got on the front foot but then Carlisle got into the game and Owain Fon Williams made a couple of good saves. "Carlisle gave us a few warnings but we didn't heed them and they turned us around. "Performance and effort wise I have little to complain about but games are won and lost by small margins and that's what happened. "Things can change quickly though. We aren't the finished article and we are a work in progress so we have to keep moving forward. "Defensively Carlisle were spot on and we didn't do enough to break them down. "Now we have to work as hard as we can on the training ground and fight for the points as hard as we can."

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