City 2, Carlisle 0

AFTER the "who's that" of Guiseley, this was more a welcome case of a City "who's who" for Valley Parade's only pre-season fixture.

The team that steps out at Swindon's County Ground in just under a fortnight will not be vastly different from that for the one home date of the pre-season programme.

There remain one or two obvious areas to strengthen – and the sight of Nathan Clarke sitting outside the 1911 Club was a very public demonstration of Phil Parkinson's efforts to solve the central-defensive issue – but this was as close to the real thing as the City chief can currently muster.

Barring a couple of closing minutes for Luke Hendrie, the usual smattering of trialists were confined to the dugout as the big guns were wheeled out for a decent airing.

The signs were largely positive, given the typical tempo of games at this time, and those who soldiered through at Valley Parade last term will have relished the new-look surface.

On first view, the pitch improvements since its last appearance three months ago look to be money well spent. Parkinson, as outspoken a critic as anyone over its previous state, was suitably impressed.

He said: "It's a completely different pitch. It's got a new feel and look – I'm so pleased. As soon as you walk on it, it's not like it's been before. It's fantastic."

The cash spent so far in City's recruitment budget is also looking a potentially sound investment – particularly in the form of Josh Morris, who continues to shine with every pre-season outing.

The busy, forward-thinking midfielder who made a mark on Parkinson with his all-round positivity for Fleetwood is already transferring those traits into claret and amber.

Starting on the left again to accommodate Mark Marshall's switch to the other flank, Morris seemed to have a hand in most of City's attacking moves.

He also once again showed that eye for goal which his new manager has talked about, first with an early deflected effort that pinged back off the post and then the well-hit strike that broke the deadlock.

Marshall showed Kyel Reid tendencies at times with his unpredictable end product. But there was enough in his pace on the ball and eagerness to tease defenders to excite those fans getting their first glimpse.

Carlisle, captained by former Bantams player Jason Kennedy, provided competitive enough opposition before running out of steam as the contest wore on.

City's fourth pre-season clean sheet was under threat on occasions, Derek Asamoah finding himself room in the box for an early shot while first-half strike partner Charlie Wyke was denied by a neatly-timed sliding block from Gary Liddle.

With Leyton Orient skipper Clarke sitting and looking down in line with the penalty area, it was Liddle again playing alongside Rory McArdle.

He gave a standard solid display but not without one or two blemishes and a "real time" referee might have taken action with clumsy penalty-box challenges on Wyke and Joe Thompson.

The Cumbrians made five changes at the break and briefly wrestled the impetus away from the home side.

But City, who had also seen James Hanson denied on the line, soon regained the upper hand and Morris got his just reward with the 59th-minute opener.

Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie should have done better, having got a good hand to the ball, but the power from the skidding 25-yard drive proved too much as it nestled in the corner.

Morris then nearly had another goal as Hanson and substitute Luke James combined to set up a snap-shot from similar distance that was not far off.

But City got their second with 18 minutes left. Chris Routis, playing in centre midfield to cover Liddle's switch, swung a free-kick into the goalmouth and the defender was on the end of it.

His first header was blocked but Liddle reacted quickest to the loose ball to prod home ahead of newly-arrived substitute Steve Davies.

Parkinson said: "It was a good progression for us. We could stretch the lads as long as we can in terms of minutes.

"Obviously there's an element of rustiness in their play at times but there was some good stuff as well. A lot of players will have got a huge benefit from that."

City: Williams; McMahon (Hendrie 87), McArdle, Liddle, Meredith; Marshall (James 64), Knott (Sheehan 79), Routis, Morris; Clarke (Lewis 84), Hanson (Davies 71). Subs (not used): Cracknell, Leigh, Mottley-Henry, Wright, Drury, Balatoni.