5 things we learned from Carlisle Utd 2 Newport County 1

1. All runs come to an end

County had won five out of five against Carlisle over the past three seasons, including 3-2 and 1-0 victories at Brunton Park under Justin Edinburgh and Terry Butcher.

But, just like that run of three successive successes at Fratton Park, past results counted for nothing and the natural order restored itself somewhat in Cumbria as it had on the South Coast last month.

The Exiles haven’t beaten Notts County at home since March 1971 and next Saturday would be the perfect time to end that sequence.

2. Defensive change didn’t work

The match changed as County were forced into two substitutions either side of half-time when first Alex Samuel and then Mark Randall were injured.

Aaron Williams replaced Samuel before the interval but Michael Flynn opted to send on Scot Bennett to take Randall’s place in midfield after the restart.

It looked a logical move to add extra protection for the defence as County looked to weather the storm at the beginning of the second half but Jazzi Barnum-Bobb or Jennison Myrie-Williams would have provided the visitors with more threat on the break.

3. Joe Day catches the eye again

The Exiles stopper showed once again that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the division with another collection of stunning saves.

Anyone watching will have been impressed by Day (above) and his list of admirers is growing by the week.

The 26-year-old is out of contract in the summer and it will be hard for County to keep hold of him, whether they stay up or not.

4. Alex Samuel will be missed

Have we seen the last of the Swansea City loan star in a County shirt? If so it was a sad end to what has been a very promising few months for the youngster.

Samuel (above) hasn’t scored the number of goals his prodigious work rate merits but he showed his value to the side again on Saturday.

And he was sorely missed after the break. The Carlisle defence breathed a sigh of relief when he was stretchered off and County rarely threatened thereafter.

5. Lenny could yet be the hero

One bright spot for those who made the trek to Cumbria, other than news of Hartlepool’s defeat at Cheltenham, was the late cameo from Lenell John-Lewis (above).

The striker has been sidelined by a serious knee injury since a pre-season friendly at Caldicot Town last July and his County career appeared to be over.

But, after nine months of frustration, he looked full of energy and he could yet sign be the man to score the goal that keeps the Exiles in the Football League.