Peter Murphy came back in to the starting line up after his successful 20 minute outing at Swansea last Friday confirmed that his ankle injury was a thing of the past, and Chris Lumsdon kept his place in the heart of the midfield, covering for Paul Thirlwell, for the visit of a Bristol Rovers side that was boasting an impressive return from their travels thus far.

The Graham and Garner strike partnership was rekindled, with United Boss Greg Abbott looking for goals to keep his side in the top slots of League One.

United started brightly, with two corners in the opening three minutes following good work on the right wing from Lumsdon, Gall and Bridge-Wilkinson. Joe Garner came closest to converting with a back post header that dropped just beyond the woodwork.

Things looked encouraging for the Cumbrians in the 9th minute when they broke quickly from a Rovers corner, with Lumsdon finding Bridge-Wilkinson on a run. He took it towards the touch line, allowing Raven to cut in. Gall then showed for it, clipping a pass over the top for Graham to latch on to. His 10 yard header went wide, although the Assistant would have had an offside decision to make had it gone in.

Bridge-Wilkinson had an edge of the box shot blocked in the 11th minute when United got forward in numbers, and the ricochet fell nicely for Lumsdon who had been screaming for the pass. He jinked past two challenges and tried to pick his spot in the top corner, but was unlucky to see it fly over the bar.

Garner then showed a bit of skill when he took a long ball on his thigh, moved it on with his next touch and then crashed a volley just over the target.

The Pirates had a decent spell themselves, which ultimately led to a goal, when they used Igoe as an outlet from a Carlisle corner. With a clear run at goal, he carried the ball 20 yards, but his shot was blocked for the corner by Raven, who had sprinted back to cover. Stuart Campbell whipped that towards the near post, and Steve Elliott used his strength to beat off the challenges and bury his header beyond Westwood, giving his side an unlikely lead.

United tried to recover quickly as Gall burst through the middle, and he picked out the run of Danny Graham, who was on the shoulder of the last man. A first time cross on the spin, fired towards the penalty spot, had Garner sliding in to apply a touch. Green and Jacobson were there with him, and they did enough to smother the danger.

Rovers had the ball in the back of the net again in the 24th minute when Disley rode a tackle and sneaked a left foot shot towards the bottom corner. Westwood parried it, and Walker popped it in to the empty net, only to find that the flag was up for offside.

Lambert sent a 23 yard free kick over the bar on 26 minutes, but it was still the home side playing the good football as they tried to get themselves back on level terms.

The 29th minute brought a great move as Smith, Gall and Graham linked, stretching the Pirates defence. Smith almost took advantage of the space, but his shot was deflected wide. Bridge-Wilkinson flung the corner in, and Garner was disappointed when his 5 yard header angled over the bar.

The blue shirts were knocking on the door, and a 31st minute neat exchange of passes on the edge of the box deserved a goal when Lumsdon and Bridge-Wilkinson pulled the strings. The latter went for a stinging, early volley that had Phillips well beaten, but it shaved the post on its way behind for a goal kick.

Rovers were defending resolutely, and both Raven and Garner had their route to goal blocked as Carlisle continued to enjoy the Lion's share of the possession, without providing that vital cutting edge.

Lambert had a brief glimpse of glory in the 43rd minute when a floated ball forward dipped beyond Murphy. The Pirates striker took a decent first touch, but by the time he'd set himself for the shot the ball was gone, with Livesey across quickly to take it off his toes.

The visitors had a corner delivery that pinged around the area as half time approached, and Raven kept Phillips on his toes with a powerful long range effort that signalled the last effort of a frustrating half for the Cumbrians.

Half Time: United 0 - 1 Rovers

Simon Hackney replaced Jeff Smith for the start of the second half with Abbott looking for his team to take the initiative.

The left winger almost had an immediate impact when he set Graham off on a run, but Jacobson cut the cross out as Garner and Gall made their move. Rovers broke quickly, and United were almost caught as Walker swung the ball to Igoe. Although one on one, he hesitated and Aranalde was able to close him down and force the ball away.

Joe Garner crept in to the box in the 53rd minute and battled his way in to the 6 yard box before he came up against a wall of green shirts. He won the corner as Graham and Gall waited for a cross.

Joe Anyinsah made his debut in the 58th minute, coming on for Gall, as the Pirates continued to defend deep and restrict the space in their own half.

Rovers almost created a re-run of their first half goal in the 69th minute when Walker headed for the near post at a corner. He got a glance on it, and Westwood showed strong hands to beat it away as it arrowed towards the back of the net.

United were on level terms in the 70th minute when they showed patience during the build up. Lumsdon eventually spread it to Hackney, and his early cross caught the visitors on the hop. Graham took it down, committed Phillips and then smashed his fourth of the season in to the roof of the net.

Westwood was in action again on 74 minutes when he battled with Lambert on the 6 yard line. It was a timely intervention as the bustling forward ghosted in, expecting a free punt at goal. Walker should have done better on 76 minutes when, completely unmarked and only 9 yards out, he swung his boot through a low pass from Williams. It beat the keeper, but he put too much on it and put it in to the terracing behind the target.

The introduction of Carlton gave Carlisle a different attacking option and Lumsdon, Raven and Anyinsah all had efforts that Phillips was able to pick up at his feet.

The Cumbrians almost committed suicide in the 87th minute when Westwood and Murphy hesitated, and Williams pounced to capitalise. A cheeky back heel rattled back off the foot of the post, and Westwood gathered it gratefully.

Danny Graham scuffed a 17 yard shot wide after he had been picked out by Bridge-Wilkinson, and Anyinsah brought the best out of Phillips when he sent a thunderbolt towards the top corner in an end to end finish.

Rovers then opened Carlisle up twice in time added on, with Haldane putting one wide as he took up a good position in the area. The chance of the day was spurned by Williams, though, when Disley nodded the ball down in to his path. 14 yards out he had the whole of the net to aim at, but he tried to be cute and could only find the top of the net.

Goals

United - Graham (69)

Rovers - Elliott (14)

Bookings

United - Raven (52)

Rovers - Haldane (77)

Teams

United: Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Gall (Anyinsah 58), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Smith (Hackney 46), Graham, Garner (Carlton 75). Subs - Howarth, Arnison.

Rovers: Phillips, Green, Jacobson (Haldane 64), Igoe, Elliott, Campbell, Lambert (Williams 75), Walker, Carruthers, Anthony, Disley. Subs - Hinton, Pipe, Rigg.

Away fans - 345