Lee Miller injury could wreck Carlisle Utd play-off dream, says Paul Reid
Published at 08:51, Friday, 13 April 2012
Former Carlisle United player Paul Reid, whose man of the match display helped earn Scunthorpe a point at Brunton Park on Monday, fears his old club’s play-off dream could be wrecked by the loss of Lee Miller.
Reid believes the race for sixth place will be won by Carlisle or Notts County, but he is worried that Miller’s absence for the remainder of the campaign with a groin injury could cost the Blues a chance of promotion to the Championship.
The Carlisle-born central defender, from Harraby, began his career with his home-town club before joining Glasgow Rangers in a £600,000 deal in 2000, and is rooting for them to secure a play-off place.
But he believes Miller, who played alongside him while on loan at Scunthorpe last season, will be a major loss to Greg Abbott’s team.
The devastated 15-goal striker fell awkwardly after an aerial challenge in Monday’s 0-0 draw with Scunthorpe and he was ruled out for the rest of the season after a scan the following day.
Reid said: “The injury to Lee Miller will be massive.
“Carlisle are going to have to hold their nerve without him and maybe play slightly differently as they won’t have that focal point up front. He is such an important player for them as he is a big goal threat. Up front he is massive for them and makes the team tick so their promotion push might be affected.
“He was on loan at Scunthorpe when we were struggling in the Championship and we weren’t creating much for him to show what he could do but he is held in very high regard.”
Reid has played against both Carlisle and Notts County within the space of just over three weeks – both games ended in 0-0 draws – and the 30-year-old believes either team would be worthy of a play-off place.
He reckons the threat from both Brentford and Stevenage will fade, leaving Carlisle and County to fight it out for the remaining top-six place.
Reid, who captained Barnsley to promotion to the Championship after they won the 2006 League One play-off final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, added: “I think the final play-off place this season is going to be between Carlisle and Notts County. I couldn’t split them at the moment. From what I’ve experienced, Carlisle and Notts County are better teams than Stevenage and Brentford.
“Stevenage and Brentford are strong, powerful teams but in terms of quality, Carlisle and Notts County are better.
“Carlisle were excellent against us at our place earlier in the season and I was also impressed with Notts County when we played them last month.
“The three players in Carlisle’s midfield make it difficult to pick them up because they all inter-change. I saw them against Brentford and defensively it wasn’t a great display but they have had to chop and change a bit because of injury and they have certainly improved.
“With a game in hand I would hope Carlisle can give themselves a fighting chance but there are sure to be some twists and turns because the whole of League One is tight.
“They have a big game against Charlton and there will be a big crowd, so the adrenaline will lift them. They need to make one big final effort to make sure they get a play-off place.”
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
So much is being made about Chantler and Millers being unavailable, especially Miller.
Miller is an exceptional and influential player, but Carlisle haven't lost a game in the last nine because of 11 players, not just two.
It must dishearten the rest of the squad to be constantly reading that their season is over now and they can't achieve the playoffs, let alone promotion.
They have contracts, as well as playoffs to play for.
Losing any team member can alter the way a team performs, but that is why we have different player and formations.
The team will not relinquish the promotion battle without a fight, and neither should the fans.
We'll all say it's over, when it is over and not a second before.
We will have to make alterations, of course we will, but come on, give this squad your backing and stop condeming them before even a balls been kicked.
Why do people always look at the negatives in their team. They need support and a strong backbone from the supporters and not doom and gloom before kickoff.
Don't forget Notts County and Brentford are under pressure too and they play each other tomorrow. Both teams can't achieve 3 points and we have a game in hand on the both of them.
Because of this, after the Charlton game we're still in the thick of it.
Get out there on Saturday and lift the team.
Have your say
I agree with David, it's not the time to be saying it's all over. We have a great record against the top teams in this division and the lads will be going all out to win. Greg Abbot should be congratulated for a great season and I'm sure will have a game plan up his sleeve to threaten Charlton. We need abig crowd there tomorrow so get down and cheer the lads to victory.
Posted by simon on 13 April 2012 at 13:59