Carlisle United end 'hard' pre-season with victory in Chester
The Blues ended their 2025/26 pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory against Calum McIntyre's Chester at the Deva Stadium.
Elliot Embleton's penalty and an own goal from Chester's Tom Leak sealed the result for the Blues who were supported by over 300 travelling Cumbrians.
After the fixture, Carlisle United's first team coach Gav Skelton reflected on the 'positive result'.
Speaking to the News & Star, he said: "It's a positive result although it is pre-season.
"It breeds confidence and its not just 2-0, I thought we were convincing, I don't think we have been troubled too many times which shows a good resilience right through the team defensively, out from the keeper, the back four, and the whole team.
"Ultimately you have got to score goals and we have done that by scoring two goals and have won 2-0 quit comfortably I think."
Skelton also piled the praise on Carlisle United forward Regan Linney after his performance against the Seals.
A performance which saw him test Chester goalkeeper Lewys Benjamin on several occasions as well as winning the Blues spot kick with some slick footwork and delivering the cross which was deflected by an opposition defender into his own goal.
He said: "He is a threat, other teams were looking at him and we are lucky enough to have him.
"He has done it in pre-season, now can he go and continue his form from last season at Altrincham into the real stuff for us.
"He has been pleasing and promising and he will be going in confident and adapted to the group, so it has been a really promising pre-season, as it has been for a number of them.
Carlisle United's attentions will now turn to their first National League when they travel to Woking on Saturday, August 9.
However, ahead of stepping up preparation for this first fixture, Skelton reflected on the club's pre-season campaign.
He said: "It has been a hard pre-season and I think you would hear that from the players as well.
"You get a bit of a reward when you get good results in pre-season and hopefully it builds a bit of confidence and belief, not just amongst he players but throughout the whole club and supporters which we need to take into the season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?
One of the more prominent and previously outstanding matters of league-wide NFL business ahead of training camps, which open en masse next week, was checked off the list Thursday afternoon when Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt agreed to a long-awaited contract extension, per reports, with the only professional team he's ever known. And while this deal was largely expected to materialize at some point this summer and may not necessarily create a seismic impact throughout the football world, it could have some broader implications than you might think. So we thought about it and now present you with the winners and losers from Watt's big bag of loot: WINNERS T.J. Watt But of course. His three-year, $123 million extension makes him the top-paid non-quarterback in league history, in terms of average annual value, for the second time in his career. It also means Watt, 30, will almost certainly finish out his football days with the Steelers, who drafted the eventual four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year 30th overall in 2017. Pittsburgh's all-time leader with 108 career sacks, Watt is currently sixth among active players but could vault all the way up to second with one of his typically dominant seasons in 2025. He's certainly got 123 million reasons worth of incentives to do so. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan The conclusion of negotiations with Watt would seem to mark the end of a wildly successful offseason, one when the Steelers' longtime head coach and recently extended general manager, respectively, practiced patience while fans and some league observers practiced panic. But now Watt has returned to the fold, which he always seemed destined to do, and will soon meet new teammates like QB Aaron Rodgers, who also took his sweet time signing on, WR DK Metcalf, DB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith along with the incoming rookie class. Expectations are justifiably growing for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Jalen Ramsey The perennial Pro Bowler was acquired (along with Smith) at the end of June in a summertime blockbuster that reshapes the back end of Pittsburgh's defense with S Minkah Fitzpatrick headed back to the Miami Dolphins. It's currently unclear as to how Ramsey might divide his time between covering receivers out wide, manning the slot or even putting in some work at safety with Fitzpatrick out of the picture. What is certain is that Ramsey's best years were spent with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring four years ago and was consistently at the top of his game playing behind demonic Aaron Donald, who caused so much havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Watt might not quite be Donald, but his presence is almost certain to benefit Ramsey, whether it means less time required in coverage, more opportunities to go ball hawking or even the ability to freelance more once he's comfortable in his new system and surroundings. Micah Parsons With Watt's contract done, it's almost certainly just a matter of time before the Dallas Cowboys' top defender − and one of the NFL's very best − becomes the next top-paid non-quarterback of all time, whether it's for $41.1 million a year, $44 million or whatever. But Parsons' money is coming, and his boss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is probably only too happy to generate that headline in due course now that he basically knows where the target is. (Also, Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson stands to benefit − at some point − from Watt's newly realized riches, though he might be waiting longer given his rookie deal doesn't expire until after the 2026 season.) LOSERS T.J. Watt Bro, why are you signing this paper now? It's supposed to be in the high 80s, humid and wet when you report to training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, six days from now – where you'll be moving into dorm rooms at Saint Vincent College. And if that's not a darkness retreat ... (Also, if the answer is evading compulsory fines for missing camp, I'd like to introduce you to Michael Strahan. But I digress.) Watt must really be missing his buddies after skipping the Steelers' offseason training program given he could have let this drag out another couple weeks while holding in or even simply remaining at the crib or beach or wherever. In addition, no chance brothers J.J. and Derek are ever picking up another dinner check. Cincinnati Bengals They have yet to placate their own holdout pass rusher, All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson waiting for his financial situation to be resolved. Hendrickson, 30, who has 35 sacks over the past two seasons – 4½ more than Watt over the same period – hasn't necessarily been looking to reset the market. But given he's due to make $16 million in the final year of his deal, it's apparent to him and anyone else outside of Cincinnati that he's (over)due for a raise and isn't merely 39% the player Watt is (when you crunch the salary figures anyway). And given how everything is seemingly falling into place in Pittsburgh – and already was basically set in Baltimore – the Bengals would be doing little more than undercutting their playoff hopes yet again by letting business matters impede their football operation. Pay the man. Myles Garrett Feels like it was just five minutes ago that he became the first non-quarterback to break the $40 million per year contractual barrier. Then he was overtaken by Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and now Watt, who both play for (better) division rivals of Garrett's Cleveland Browns. And, after explicitly stating he was the league's best defensive player last season after the Browns beat the Steelers in Cleveland – a remark clearly directed at Watt – doesn't it have to irk Garrett just a little bit that he's now the second-best paid defender ... and for a team that's probably going to stink? New York Jets The Steelers' Week 1 opponents will now be catching the full T.J. Watt Experience as they unveil an offense led by new QB1 (and former Steeler) Justin Fields. And just when the NYJ might have started to hope they'd be catching a guy trying to knock off rust and possibly playing on an opening day pitch count given how negotiations can sometimes drag late into the process with Pittsburgh players … Aaron Rodgers? The Steelers are Watt's team, and he's been the face of this franchise for a minute … though maybe you could argue it's actually Tomlin. Regardless, Rodgers will definitely be the story as long as he's amongst the yinzers, and the spotlight is about to be completely re-trained onto the four-time league MVP. No more time spent fretting about Watt's bank account or whereabouts or questions posed to Rodgers about what No. 90 means to the team and how important it is to reward him. Nope, nope, nope. This is now all about No. 8 and what he can do to end Pittsburgh's playoff failures and stabilize a position – temporarily anyway – that has effectively undermined this team since even before Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Have fun with that, Mr. Rodgers! . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TJ Watt contract: Winners, losers after Steelers star gets extension
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jerry Jones comments on Micah Parsons contract talks: 'You can get hit by a car'
The Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive play-caller for the 2025 NFL season. Cowboys players, coaches and staff arrived in Oxnard, California for training camp this week. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott are back and healthy for the franchise's first season under coach Brian Schottenheimer. On defense, star edge rusher Micah Parsons leads the way as former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus takes over on that side of the ball. Parsons, the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Parsons and the Cowboys have yet to agree on a long-term extension. Parsons attended minicamp, and his team attempted to secure an extension last offseason but was denied as the team prioritized extensions for Lamb and Prescott. It's no surprise Parsons' contract was a big line of questioning for Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones at the opening day of training camp. "Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said. "He was hurt six games last year, seriously. We've signed, I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year in Dak Prescott. So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money." To be clear, Parsons missed four games in 2024, not six as Jones states here. Parsons still managed 12 sacks in 13 games and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth year in a row. "Contracts are four, five years, okay?" Jones continued. "There's a lot of water under the bridge if you step out there and do something in the first two or three. You can get hit by a car. Seriously." When asked if he had talked to Parsons yet in these negotiations, Jones said he hadn't. "I've talked with people that have talked to him, let's put it like that," he said. "I don't necessarily talk to these agents or I don't necessarily talk to attorneys and I do stuff everywhere. And I don't necessarily talk to the people that are hired to do certain things. I talk to the principals 90% of the time." Parsons has been one of the best players in the NFL since entering the league in 2021. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was a first-team All-Pro in his first season. He's made two All-Pro teams since then: a first-team nod in 2022 and second-team in 2023. He's entering his age-26 season this year and could command a record-breaking contract if left to the open market next offseason. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jerry Jones weighs in on Micah Parsons amid Cowboys contract talks
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
QB Joe Burrow: this group of Bengals wide receivers is deepest of my career
CINCINNATI – Troy Walters often thinks of the fortunate situation in which he finds himself. 'Every day,' the Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach told USA TODAY Sports. 'Because every day (the receivers are) doing something out on the field, you just sit back, it just amazes you. So every day someone's making a play and just truly blessed and honored and don't take any day for granted.' Few NFL coaches in the league enjoy the talent pool in Walters' room. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are arguably – and it's a logically sound argument – the best one-two punch at receiver in the league. The guy throwing them the ball is Joe Burrow. They are productive, and after seasons of contract-related drama, both are paid. 'But what I love most about those guys is they're just good people,' Walters said of Chase and Higgins. 'They're fun to be around. Every day's a good day.' That was even before they became the highest-paid receiving duo in NFL history this offseason. (They broke the news simultaneously and share an agent.) Chase signed a four-year extension worth more than $40 million in average annual value, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback until the Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt inked his new deal this month. His megadeal came after he won the receiving triple crown, as he led the league in all three major categories: 127 catches, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Higgins, meanwhile, also signed a four-year pact that, at $115 million total, made him a top-10 wideout in terms of salary. Previously, he'd threatened to hold out, and the Bengals applied the franchise tag to him in consecutive years. He responded to speculation that his early-season hamstring injury had more to do with his dissatisfaction with the tag than actually being hurt. Chase sat out all of training camp last year and rejoined practice with less than a week before the team's regular-season opener and took out a $50 million insurance policy on himself to protect against injury. 'First, you're happy that they got what they deserved, what they've worked hard for. I'm happy for them,' Walters said. 'And then, it's not a distraction. Not to say it was a huge distraction last year, but any time you got guys missing practices and not here and so forth, it's tough. But they're locked in.' The new challenge for Chase and Higgins, Walters said, is to make sure that the production matches the paycheck. 'The standard is high and they got to meet it every day,' he said. 'And they do that.' During Wednesday's practice, Higgins made plays during the move-the-ball portion of practice Chase was his usual self in the red zone. Andrei Iosivas is always primed to make one or two big plays that go unnoticed, Walters said. Mitchell Tinsley made plays that caught Walters' eye. Isaiah Williams, a second-year player from Illinois, has had moments. Burrow specifically mentioned Jamoi Mayes and Charlie Jones as two other young receivers who have looked sharp during their reps with No. 9. 'We're as deep at the receiver position as we've been since I've been here,' Burrow said. He continued: 'When somebody goes down, you can put somebody right there that we have a lot of faith in.' Not all of those wideouts have a ton of game reps, but they keep making plays in practice. There have not been many mental errors to this point in camp, which is rare, Burrow said. 'I feel great about where that room is,' he said. The leadership in the Bengals' receivers room is young. Higgins is the most experienced as a sixth-year veteran who was part of Burrow's draft class, and Chase is one year behind them. What Iosivas admires about them is the way they find ways to improve what they already excel at. 'Seeing greatness in front of you makes me want to be great as well and that's why I think our receiving room is so good,' Iosivas told USA TODAY Sports. Even when Chase held out last year until the start of the regular season, nobody was bothered. The coaches want him in the room, of course. But Chase never lacked the support of his teammates. 'Off the field, it's more like you want your guys to win,' Iosvias said. And off the field, Chase and Higgins are best friends. They are never going at each other over who is getting the ball more. "There's never any ego. There's never any jealousy," Walters said. "As coaches, that gives you some ease, that gives you some comfort." Trey Hendrickson's holdout becomes hold-in at Bengals training camp They are complements from a skillset perspective. Chase is versatile and can play on either side of the formation. If teams focus on him, then Higgins – a bigger, still fast, more vertical threat – can make them pay. Chase wins 1-on-1 matchups almost every time. 'One has size, the other has versatility,' Walters said. 'Ja'Marr is strong run-after-the-catch. Tee is a big body. He's going to make all the 50-50 catches. 'They set the standard,' Walters added. 'Everyone wants to be like them.' Can Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas make plays for Cincinnati Bengals? Defenses know Burrow would throw the ball to Higgins and Chase every chance he can. Burrow also understands that defenses can divert enough resources to take both guys out of a play. Which makes players such as Iosivas, Burton, tight end Mike Gesicki (and Erick All Jr. once he returns from injury), among others, all the more integral to what the Bengals want to accomplish through the air. Iosivas popped out with multiple nice plays during Wednesday's practice. 'He's having a great camp,' Burrow said of the sixth-round pick from Princeton. Jermaine Burton has also flashed during camp, Walters said. Following an unsettling rookie season, Walters had a good spring. But the team is still seeking consistency on and off the field from Burton, who was accused of assaulting a 19-year-old woman he dated in January (no charges were filed) and had a handful of other behavior-related issues during his rookie season. In his second season, Walters said, Burton knows where to line up and plays with more speed. But he still has to master the details so Burrow can trust that he'll be where he is supposed to be. Contested catches was a weakness of Iosivas' as a rookie and first couple of seasons in the league. Burrow took note of the improvement he's seen. 'He's doing a great job of locating (the ball), finding it, and making an aggressive play on the ball … he continues to show that in practice and he's going to continue to get opportunities like that in games,' Burrow said. 'You build that trust, you're going to get opportunities.' Walters said Iosivas has been focused on gaining yards after the catch because, with Chase and Higgins dominating the target share, he may have 40 to 50 catches on the season. But if he can make them productive and 'explosives,' Walters said, 'he's going to have a good season.' It helps Iosivas can play all three receiver spots and has the size and intelligence to do so. He's big enough to block. Putting him outside helps create slot looks for Chase or can give Higgins a spell. 'That goes unnoticed, just the value in terms of the multiple positions he plays and the multiple roles … he's a valuable piece of the offense,' Walters said. Not bad for a sixth-rounder from Princeton. 'I think he came in with a chip on his shoulder and he's definitely produced better than a sixth-rounder would,' Walters said, 'and he keeps getting better and he's not satisfied.' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ja'Marr Chase leads 'deepest' Bengals WR group of Joe Burrow's career
