Greg Abbott stuck with the same starting line up that earned him three points against Southend last Saturday with Joe Anyinsah recovering from a 24-hour illness to take a place on the bench. 

A tight start brought some good passing football from the visitors but it was Carlisle who created the first opening of the day on 11 minutes when Keogh swung a delivery from wide into the box. Hurst nodded it goalwards, but Sodje got himself in the way. Kavanagh was quickly onto the loose ball but he scuffed his shot, dragging it well wide of the target.

A Nicky Bailey cross from deep flew through everyone on 18 minutes as it made its way past Pidgeley's far post and Harte watched his 30-yard free kick spin away past the upright at the other end as United made their own mark on the game.

Therry Racon tried his luck from distance when a Bailey free kick was blocked by the wall, but it was always going wide as Pidgeley allowed it to drift past.

Matt Robson made use of some unexpected space following some tenacious tackling on 30 minutes, but he couldn't keep his left foot effort on target, but Bailey went close at the other end when he rode two challenges before curling a 19-yard shot towards the top corner. Pidgeley was beaten but he watched in relief as it whipped over the bar.

An inch perfect pass from Hurst in the 31st minute found Dobie onside and he went one-on-one with Ikeme, waiting for the on-loan stopper to commit himself. Dobie went for precision with a shot towards the bottom corner and Ikeme did well to smother it with a full length dive.

Christian Dailly flirted with a red card in the 37th minute when he hauled Dobie to the floor after a tussle 23-yards from goal, and Referee Mark Haywood stuck with the yellow card decision much to the annoyance of the Carlisle fans.

The resulting free kick from Ian Harte had Ikeme well beaten but it clipped the base of the post and rolled along the line before Youga was able to complete the clearance. The ball was quickly back in the area and United were incensed when Livesey was held down only for the officials to wave play on.

A penalty was given just 30 seconds later though when Richard Keogh was blocked from meeting the set piece when he was also held down.

Ikeme pushed Harte's spot kick onto the post but the defender reacted first to sweep the loose ball into the back of the net. Addicks boss Phil Parkinson was sent to the stands as he remonstrated with the fourth official in the aftermath of the decision.

The visitors were back on level terms on the stroke of half time when Burton broke into the Carlisle half. Kavanagh tracked back and he was judged to have taken the legs from underneath the forward as he crept inside the penalty area. Burton dusted himself down and crunched the spot kick home leaving Pidgeley with no chance.

Half Time: United 1 - 1 Charlton

Ian Harte had to hook the ball off the line as Lloyd Sam drilled a low cross shot towards the back post, and Sam Sodje sent a bullet header just wide when he found space at a 49th minute free kick.

Kelly Youga showed some pace and skill on 52 minutes when he raced forward and let one go from 22-yards, but Pidgeley was able to watch it all the way.

Pericard nodded over from 6-yards from a terrific Keogh cross on 61 minutes as Carlisle picked up the pace, and that increase in tempo was rewarded when Graham Kavanagh latched onto a half clearance 25 yards out. He took one touch and crunched a well struck shot beyond Ikeme to restore the United lead.

Robson and Harte had efforts blocked in quick succession as United continued to ask the questions, but Pidgeley was needed to save when Racon went for the near post as he forced his way onto the ball on the edge of the area.

Shelvey thundered a low free kick through a gaggle of bodies only to see Pidgeley pick it up, and Mooney ghosted in between Hart and Horwood when a cross came in from wide, but he got his bearings wrong and failed to make any kind of contact.

Kavanagh secured the points on 83 minutes with another lesson in goal scoring when he picked his spot with an unstoppable shot that had Ikeme flapping in mid air.

Goals

United - Harte (41), Kavnagh (63, 83)

Charlton - Burton (45 pen)

Bookings

United - Dobie (49)

Charlton - Dailly (17)

Teams 

United - Pidgeley, Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Horwood, Hurst (Anyinsah 82), Taiwo, Kavanagh, Robson, Dobie, Pericard (Bridge-Wilkinson 88). Subs - Collin, Murphy, Rothery, Offiong, Kane.

Charlton - Ikeme, Omozusi (Basey 71), Youga, Dailly, Sodje, Sam, Semedo (Shelvey 71), Racon, Bailey, Burton, McLeod (Mooney 71). Subs - Randolph, Llera, Spring, Wagstaff.

Away fans - 646