Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott rung the changes for the trip to Swindon following the disappointing defeat against Huddersfield on Tuesday night with Joe Anyinsah and Graham Kavanagh coming back into the starting line up.

Stoke loanee Ben Marshall made his full debut for the club in place of Kevan Hurst with second year Youth team keeper Mark Gillespie coming onto the banch for the injured Lenny Pidgeley.

Carlisle created the first chance of the day on 4 minutes when good possession football brought a cross into the area. It spooned high into the air off Anyinsah and Clayton was there to greet it as it fell to the floor. He went for a first time volley but he couldn't keep it down and it sailed over the stands and out of the ground.

Danny Ward found some space on 8 minutes and his cross from the left flank was heading for Paynter until Harte intervened.

The Robins created an opening for themselves on 13 minutes when Ward crossed from wide again, bringing another clearing header from Harte. That fell for Ferry and his touch eventually drifted through to Douglas. He tried to curl it into the far corner but Collin saved well and gathered it at the second attempt.

An Ian Harte 22 yard free kick brought the best out of Lucas as it headed towards his top corner on 18 minutes, and Danny Livesey was disappointed when he sent his free header wide from the resulting corner.

Good movement from Paynter gave McGovern space on the right of the box on 21 minutes but Collin was equal to the shot again as the tricky winger tried to pick out a curler to the top corner.

Danny Ward then fizzed one over from long range as Swindon enjoyed a decent spell, and the Cumbrians were carved open on 31 minutes when a ball through the heart of the defence found Charlie Austin in acres of space. He was able to look up and pick his spot to open the scoring.

Austin whipped an effort over moments later as he beat the offisde trap with Livesey on his shoulder, and the Robins kept flooding forward as they appeared to be buoyed by the opening goal.

A direct free kick routine nearly opened United up on the half hour mark when McGovern picked out Greer, but the big defender couldn't direct his shot on target.

Carlisle were nearly back on level terms on the stroke of half time when Clayton fed the ball on to Anyinsah. He swivelled and shot but Lucas kept his concentration and blocked it with his legs.

Half Time: Swindon 1 - 0 United

United started the half with a great corner delivery from Kavanagh but there was noone there to finish it off as it dropped invitingly in the area.

Paynter had a shot deflect off Keogh at the other and it was hearts in the mouth time just for a moment as it spun over Collin and away for a corner.

But Paynter got his goal on 53 minutes when he reacted first to glance a wickedly delivered Alan Sheehan free kick beyond the despairing dive of Adam Collin.

Ian Harte went within a whisker of pulling one back on 63 minutes when he nodded a Hurst corner goalwards, but the defender on the post got a touch and it went behind for a corner.

A quick break at the other end took Ward clear, and Paynter got to the cross with a delicate header that appeared to be heading in. It was relief all round when it drifted away.

Vincent Pericard almost came back to haunt the Cumbrians when an Austin cross came into his path but he couldn't get his balance right and the moment was gone.

Pericard went even closer on 77 minutes when great footwork opened a path to goal. He struck his shot firmly but Peter Murphy was on the spot to clear off the line as it looked like becoming the third goal of the day.

Collin saved well from a thundering drive on 87 minutes and Pericard was there again, but he couldn't poke it in as it bounced back off the keeper.

Paul Thirlwell spurned a great opportunity to register a consolation goal from close range deep into time added on, and that was that as Swindon saw the time out on a comfortable victory.

Goals

Swindon - Austin (31), Paynter (53)

Teams 

Swindon Town - Lucas, Amankwaah, Cuthbert, Greer (Morrison 81), McGovern, Douglas, Ferry (Easton 53), Ward, Paynter (Pericard 69), Austin. Subs (not used) - Smith, Jean-Francois, Timlin, Ritchie.

Carlisle United - Collin, Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Murphy, Marshall (Hurst 53), Thirlwell, Kavanagh (Duffy 53), Clayton, (Bridge-Wilkinson 69) Robson, Anyinsah. Subs (not used) - Gillespie, Horwood, Taiwo, Kane.

Away fans - 297