Carlisle boss John Ward hailed the professionalism of Zigor Aranalde after dropping him from the squad that clinched a vital win over Walsall.Ward opted to ring the changes ahead of the Saddlers' visit to Brunton Park and Aranalde paid the price for a string of below-par performances.

But despite failing to make the team sheet for the first time in his career at Brunton Park, Ward moved to praise the experienced defender's attitude.

"I've got to stand by my own decisions and Zigor has had a bit of a tough time over the last few games," he said.

"But when he knew he wasn't in the 16, he shook hands with everybody in the dressing room, wished them all luck and was there at the end.

"It's a measure of him and what there is in that dressing room. It was here when I came and we've managed to keep that going."

More Football News from TEAMtalk