Walsall vs Carlisle United. Sky Bet League Two.
Poundland Bescot StadiumAttendance4,794.
Sunday 29 December 2019 19:15, UK
Harry McKirdy's stoppage-time header handed Chris Beech his first league win as Carlisle manager as the Cumbrians won 2-1 at 10-man Walsall to move eight points clear of the drop.
Saddlers striker Elijah Adebayo cancelled out Nathan Thomas' opener but skipper James Clarke saw red for Walsall before McKirdy looped home a 94th-minute header.
United keeper Adam Collin made two fine first-half saves, foiling Caolan Lavery's close-range effort and pushing Mat Sadler's near-post flick onto the upright with Wes McDonald skying the rebound.
Carlisle went ahead on 52 minutes, Thomas firing into the bottom corner after his fierce initial strike had been saved by Liam Roberts.
Roberts then denied Thomas a second from a similar position before Walsall levelled on 70 minutes, Adebayo hooking in from close range after McDonald crashed a shot off the underside of the bar.
A clean-through McKirdy was then hauled back by last man Clarke for the 77th-minute dismissal but the midfielder had the last laugh, nodding Aaron Hayden's flick-on over a stranded Roberts at the death.
