United were forced in to no less than 6 changes for this important League One fixture at the Liberty Stadium.

James Krause made his first start since joining on loan from Ipswich, with Simon Grand and Neale McDermott also getting the nod in the starting line up for the first time this season. David Raven came back from his frustrating injury lay off, with Chris Billy in to beef up the midfield.

A late change to the team sheet also saw Derek Holmes come in for Kev Harper who had, apparently, injured himself during the warm up.

The way United came in to the game was always going to be crucial and they had Westwood to thank for keeping the scores level with less than 30 seconds on the clock. An incisive move saw the Swans glide down the right hand side, exchanging passes on the way to the Carlisle box. A neat cross from Britton found Rory Fallon with time to spare, and it took the long arm of the keeper to claw the ball away from the top corner as he hooked his leg around a difficult volley.

More enterprising play in the 5th minute brought a hurried punch from Westwood as a lofted ball in threatened to drop nicely for Fallon. The United stopper came a long way and had Krause to thank for hooking it clear.

The home side had settled quickly and a raking crossfield pass set them on the attack again as Britton peeled away on the wing. Gray had to get back and cover as he put it behind for a corner.

As that cross came in Carlisle were left to rue the opportunity to get the ball away as Robinson latched on to a Krause half clearance that brought a spectacular overhead kick. Arrowing towards the bottom corner, Westwood was forced to parry it back in to the gaggle of bodies. Unfortunately for him Lawrence was able to cushion it in his midriff before blasting it in to the back of the gaping net.

Lee Trundle was roaming the pitch with confidence and he broke free once more when Pratley took the ball in midfield. Surging in to the area he drilled the shot across Westwood, who was pleased to see Krause following up to assist with the defending.

Gray flicked a Lumsdon free kick wide in the 14th minute but the Cumbrians were guilty of falling asleep on the quarter hour mark when Tate took a quick throw tight by the corner flag. Pratley used the time he was given to pick out the lurking Rory Fallon who, from just 8 yards out, was able to slot it home in to the bottom corner.

The Swans were asserting themselves in front of their own fans and Trundle was the instigator behind most of their forward play as he constantly showed for the ball. His left foot cross on 22 minutes picked out the nippy Leon Britton, who had stolen a yard, and he missed by inches as he poked it wide of the upright.

Ian Craney was next to go close when he latched on to a Lumsdon mistake 20 yards out, but his rushed volley lacked the pace it needed to beat Keiren Westwood. The stopper was down low to claim it on the ground.

The 27th minute saw more United hesitancy in midfield lead to their downfall when Trundle picked the ball up and slid Robinson away on a run. The midfielder had just one thing in mind as he unleashed a long range piledriver that left Westwood with absolutely no chance as it curled in to the roof of his net to extend the scoreline to 3-0.

Kev Gall produced a moment of magic to lift Cumbrian spirits in the 34th minute when he found himself one on one 23 yards out. Picking his spot he found a dipping effort that left Gueret stranded, but the cross bar was to be the saviour as the ball ricocheted back in to play. Raven was there to follow up but his first time shot was wild, never troubling the target.

Swansea were enjoying their football and were moving the ball sweetly, and their attack in the 38th minute typified the way they were playing. Leon Britton ran clear on the Carlisle left, cutting the ball back for Tate to dink in to the box. Trundle rose highest and it needed a tip over the bar from Westwood to make sure that it wasn't dropping in to the net.

Andy Robinson was prepared to shoot from anywhere, as he demonstrated in the 42nd minute with a raking 30 yarder that Westwood was again called in to action to save.

The home side upped the pressure as half time approached and a prolonged goal mouth scramble in the 43rd minute saw Trundle, Fallon and Lawrence all have shots blocked. One and two touch football a minute later carved Carlisle open through the centre when Robinson and Trundle tried to pass their way to the goal line. It was only a last ditch intervention from Raven that meant that a corner would be the most that they would get.

Robinson produced another stinger from distance in time added on to the half, that Westwood had to scramble across to parry, and Fallon had his head in his hands as the rebound canoned beyond him and away from danger.

Half Time: Swans 3 - 0 United

United started the second half much more brightly and a Gall run in the 49th minute brought a corner that the Cumbrians were unlucky not to score from.

Lumsdon played it short for Raven who wasted no time in swinging it in to the box. Holmes flicked it on but it dropped beyond the far post when it just needed a runner to tap it in.

A Hawley free kick was charged down on 55 minutes as Carlisle kept trying to get themselves back in to it, but it just wasn't their day as the Swans stood tall.

A quick counter attack in the 59th minute exposed the Cumbrian back line as white shirts flooded forward in support of a Trundle break. He held the ball intelligently before slipping it across the face of the 18 yard box where captain Darren Pratley was on hand to guide it in to the bottom corner.

It was to get even worse three minutes later when another fast moving break saw Craney feed Trundle, who had acres of space in front of him. He lost his balance as he stumbled in to the area, but kept battling whilst on the floor, digging it out towards Fallon. He still had plenty to do but was able to get it out from under his feet and chip it in to the back of the net as Westwood scrambled across to try to save it.

Chris Billy took it upon himself to make a run forward and his left foot effort from 12 yards had Gueret diving low to make sure, but it was Swansea catching the eye as Trundle and Britton produced the tricks to bring the home fans to their feet.

The speed of the forward play was catching Carlisle unawares for the most part and Britton, Trundle and Craney combined on 71 minutes to slice a way to another shooting opportunity. Westwood was well placed to gather this one as Craney blasted his shot in to the dirt.

The home crowd were willing the influential Lee Trundle to pile on his tricks and he obliged on 82 minutes with a run and chip from 20 yards that almost outfoxed Westwood. He opted for accuracy but the ball lacked the pace to make it to the top corner.

Simon Grand stepped up to take a 25 yard free kick that was deflected for a corner and his header from the ball in was on target, but easy for Gueret.

A Neale McDermott corner in the 87th minute saw Grand go close again when he was left on his own, 9 yards out, and was able to pick his spot. Gueret was beaten and it took the player on the line to kick it clear and preserve the clean sheet.

Chris Billy had a 25 yard effort deflected wide in the 89th minute and, at the other end, Rory Fallon spurned a hat-trick chance when he accepted a short lay off from Trundle just inside the box. He had the goal to aim at but seemed to choke as he pulled his leg back, sending it right at Westwood.

Goals

Swans - Lawrence (7), Fallon (15) (62), Robinson (27), Pratley (59)

Bookings

Swans - Robinson (35)

United - Grand (73)

Teams

Swansea - Gueret, Austin, Tate, Britton, Pratley, Trundle, Fallon, Painter (Meslien 86), Robinson, Lawrence, Craney. Subs - Oakes, Akinfenwa, Amankwaah, Iriekpen.

United - Westwood, Raven, Grand, Gray, Krause, Lumsdon, McDermott, Billy, Holmes, Gall, Hawley. Subs - Williams, Joyce, Arnison, Vipond, Hackney.

Away fans - tbc