the 2008–09 campaign was burnley's first full season with owen coyle as manager. carlisle managed to keep his place in the team under the new regime and was a regular fixture in the team for the first six months of the season. however, he was dropped from the team for the match against charlton on 31 january 2009 due to a lack of form. he remained out of the team for the whole of february 2009. he made his return to action on 3 march 2009, starting in the centre of defence in the 1–0 win over his old team, blackpool, at bloomfield road. on his next league appearance he scored burnley's first goal in a 4–2 victory against crystal palace at turf moor. he went on to score three further goals in the last two months of the season, getting his name on the scoresheet against nottingham forest, southampton and his former team, queens park rangers. his goals helped burnley to a fifth-placed finish in the championship, and a place in the play-offs. he played in both legs of the semi-final against reading as the team won 3–0 on aggregate to secure a place in the play-off final at wembley stadium. carlisle was handed the man of the match award for his performance as burnley triumphed 1–0 against sheffield united to earn promotion to the premier league for the 2009–10 season.