JOHN Coleman praised the performance of his players who picked up a well-earned draw against Carlisle United despite playing most of the game with 10 men after Matty Pearson’s early dismissal.

The Reds boss said the display against the high-flying Cumbrians was like ‘chalk and cheese’ compared to last week’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town.

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And he said if his side can reproduce those battling qualities, it bodes well for the remainder of the League Two campaign.

“It was chalk and cheese from last week,” said Coleman. “I know players don’t go out to do that but just things conspire against them and people’s heads go down.

“We never let our heads go down at any stage, not with the sending off, not with going a goal down. We kept on fighting and what pleased me is that we tried to win it.

“We didn’t just cower in the corner with our arms over our heads and take a barrage of punches. We did try and win it and that should bode well for the future.”

Coleman said he had no complaints about Pearson’s dismissal for a poor tackle on Macaulay Gillesphey in the 12th minute. But the Reds boss said his defender is not the type to lunge in to challenges.

“I know Matty and he wouldn’t do a two-footed challenge,” added Coleman. “He does walk the line a bit.

“He has done really well to intercept the ball. For me, I wasn’t surprise when the red card came out whereas last week I was stunned. So I don’t have too many complaints.”

But Coleman believes Carlisle could also have been reduced to 10 men after goal hero Shay McCartan was fouled.

“It will be interesting to see the video again on Shay McCartan when he goes through because for me I think he is going clean through on goal,” he said.

“He is certainly going to shoot at their keeper and there is a debate whether their full back is going to cover. But the referee has given them the benefit of the doubt and we don’t seem to get any benefit of the doubt at the moment.”

Coleman was delighted with the response of his side who contained Carlisle and continued to push forward despite the numerical disadvantage.

“I’m pleased for our players that they got something for their efforts because it would have been heartbreaking to lose it but we have got to dust ourselves down.”

He added: “Next week will take care of itself but then we have got a couple of massive games and we have to try and get a couple of wins on the table.”

Coleman also praised both sets of supporters as a crowd of 2,634 packed in to the Wham Stadium.

He said: “I thought our fans were magnificent, I thought the Carlisle fans were magnificent as well. It’s great when you can get a good atmosphere and it makes it all the more special and we want more of those games."