Paul Simpson is “gutted” for Ben Barclay after the on-loan Stockport defender scored the goal that secured Carlisle’s 3-2 aggregate Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final win over Bradford.
Barclay cannot play against his parent club who earlier in the day defeated Salford on penalties to reach Wembley themselves.
Barclay headed home after Bradford threatened to send the tie to penalties as 37-year-old Matt Derbyshire brought the teams level on aggregate early in the second half of extra time.
Brad Halliday’s own goal after 21 minutes and Callum Guy’s strike in the first period of extra time gave the Cumbrians the advantage after losing the first leg at Valley Parade 1-0.
“Ben got the goal but unfortunately can’t play,” confirmed otherwise jubilant boss Simpson. “It is one of those nightmare scenarios.
“When he has been fit this year Ben has been brilliant for us. I am sure he will be coming along for the trip.
“Even though he can’t be involved in the game he will be a big part of our training programme.
“We knew that before and it was always a gamble. I am sure he was desperate for it to be Salford.”
On Carlisle’s first trip to Wembley since 2011 Simpson, who masterminded United’s last promotion, added: “We are not going there to make up the numbers.
“I had so much belief in the group we had enough to get over the line.
“They produced a performance to get us a result against a good side.
“I am sweating buckets because I feel like I have gone through the mill myself.”
Bradford were always on the back foot when Halliday, under pressure from JK Gordon, put through his own net after 21 minutes.
They did hit the post shortly after but League Two’s top marksman Andy Cook had little opportunity to add to his 31-goal total.
“It wasn’t what we hoped for,” said Bantams boss Mark Hughes. “.Clearly we wanted to get to the last game of the season.
“We have played well enough this season to deserve that.
“We have looked back on the goals and clearly they are all bad goals. But every goal is a bad goal and we could have done better in certain situations.
“I am disappointed with the last one especially. We had enough players around the lad who got the header.
“It has been an exceptional season in terms of where we were last year. We should not overlook that point.
“We have produced some great moments but other moments have hurt us and not allowed us to finish the season how we wanted.
“We are a different club now and we can use this disappointment next season. We came up short this season but next year we won’t.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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