It was situation no change for United at Brunton Park this afternoon as far as team selection was concerned as they stuck with the same starting line up that had brought home 4 points from two testing away games over the course of the last week.

The first game of the John Ward era was against a struggling Millwall side who travelled North with the intention of belatedly kick-starting their own 07 / 08 campaign.

The Cumbrians won the first corner of the day after just 2 minutes as they piled the pressure on from the off, with Hackney and Anyinsah providing their now customary width.

An incisive move on 4 minutes brought a good save from Douglas when Lumsdon popped a pass onwards to Anyinsah. His neat flick picked out Bridge-Wilkinson, and he ignored the screams of Garner and Graham as he tried to bury a left-foot shot in to the back of the net. The Lions keeper parried it, and was able to get it away for a corner to avoid a scramble.

Millwall were defending in numbers, with the midfield sitting tight in front of the defence, and Carlisle were unlucky not to make them pay in the 11th minute when Anyinsah pushed wide and crossed early. Garner almost got to that one, but Bridge-Wilkinson had taken up a good position just behind him, and he tried to volley early. Frampton blocked it, but the blue shirts were looking lively and Hackney chipped the rebound towards the back post when he spotted the run of Danny Graham. The crowd were on their feet, but it was well marshalled and the ball drifted behind for the goal kick, bringing an end to the move.

United took the lead on 15 minutes with a text book delivery from a Bridge-Wilkinson free kick that left Douglas in two minds as it flew in to the hole between him and his defence. Joe Garner, 7 yards out and completely unmarked, was able to pick his spot as he headed home his third goal in three games.

Garner almost doubled the lead two minutes later when Anyinsah pulled a pass back in to his path. He connected cleanly but was disappointed to see it fly over the angle of the post and bar.

Millwall were having difficulty coping with the Carlisle movement, and a slide rule pass from Murphy in the 20th minute sprung the offside trap, allowing Garner to race forward. He drew the keeper, and tried to lay the ball across for Graham to tap in to an empty net, but he put too much on his touch and the strike pairing looked on in despair as the ball spun away to safety.

Jamie O'Hara showed that the Lions still had some bite left in the 22nd minute when he crossed low from the left, after creating himself a yard of space in the challenge. Murphy kept his composure and watched it closely, making sure that Alexander was nowhere near the easy tap in.

Brammer then took everyone by surprise with a 23 yard volley that rattled the foot of the post, with Westwood scrambling quickly in attempt to get something on it.

The flurry from the visitors was brief, and brought to an end in style in the 29th minute when Anyinsah and Bridge-Wilkinson linked before spraying the ball in to the predatory Danny Graham. He took it early, putting enough behind the shot to ensure that Douglas was taken out of the equation, with the ball eventually finding its way across the line.

Frampton had a decent 30 yard effort dip just over the bar as they attacked from the restart, but it was all about Carlisle United and how many they could put away as the Lions visibly crumbled in front of the eyes of the Brunton Park crowd.

Douglas was in the right place at the right time in the 33rd minute when the Cumbrians kept the ball alive, resulting in a telling cross from Lumsdon. Graham was first to it, but the keeper plucked it out of the air.

The advantage was stretched to a 3 goal lead in the 34th minute when United sprinted through midfield and found themselves faced by a very sparse defence. Taking full advantage Anyinsah received it and thumped a cross towards Danny Graham, who continued on his individual run of scoring form with a volley that gave him his eighth goal in 12 appearances for the season.

Jamie O'Hara showed a petulant streak 60 seconds later when he was substituted by Willie Donachie, and a shirt throwing incident, coupled with some strong words for his Boss, was greeted by cat-calls from the loyal supporters in the Paddock as the unfortunate player trudged his way down the tunnel.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson opened his Carlisle United acocunt with a sublime free kick in the 45th minute that had goal written all over it from the moment it left his foot.

Anyinsah nearly made it 5 with a rasping drive in time added on, but Douglas was equal to it as he tipped it over the bar for a corner.

Half Time: United 4 - 0 Millwall

Kev Gall came on for Joe Garner at the start of the second half, and it was Millwall who would create the first chance as Westwood tipped away an Alexander shot.

Normal service was resumed in the 51st minute when Lumsdon angled a pass up the line for Gall to get on to. He took it on then cut it back for Graham, who had taken up a lovely position. His first touch set it up nicely, and he was inches away from bagging his hat-trick as he clattered a stinging shot across the face of goal, beating Douglas despite the flailing dive.

Some of the football from Carlisle was top drawer, typified in the 52nd minute by a flowing move that involved Aranalde, Lumsdon and Bridge-Wilkinson. Hackney was the most advanced, but his cross was in front of Gall, who was waiting in the middle for the opportunity to bury it.

Harris forced a great save out of Westwood in the 57th minute when he connected well with a deep cross in to the box. The follow up shot from Alexander needed an intervention from Livesey to help it on its way for a corner, as the Lions tried to make a mark in a game in which they had severely under-performed.

Gall was unlucky not to score in the 62nd minute when he volleyed from close range, finding the target. Douglas didn't know much about it, but it struck him on the chest and Millwall were able to clear.

The Lions enjoyed a decent spell midway through the half when first Dunne, and then Robinson, tested Westwood between the sticks. Dunne should really have done much better as he cushioned a very weak header down for the big keeper to gratefully smother. Robinson did slightly better, but he put it too close to the keeper, allowing the tip over the bar.

Alexander then headed wide when he should have hit the target as he got to a cross towards the Cumbrian near post, but it was wayward as he lost his bearings and misjudged the contact.

The action tailed off as both teams appeared to accept the scoreline as it was, but Dunne missed a good chance when he headed over from a Hackett cross that left the defence flat footed.

The final whistle brought the curtain down on a very professional display from a Carlisle United side who did little wrong in front of their new team manager.

Goals

United - Garner (15), Graham (29, 34), Bridge-Wilkinson (45)

Bookings

United - Garner (36)

Teams 

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy (Arnison 61), Aranalde, Anyinsah (Carlton 78), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney, Graham, Garner (Gall 46). Subs - Howarth, Smith.

Millwall - Douglas, Senda, Frampton, Robinson, Dunne, Alexander, Harris (Hackett 67), Brammer, O'Hara (Fuseini 35), Simpson, Shaw (Bakayogo 39). Subs - Day, Barron.

Away fans - 244