Greg Abbott made two changes to the side that lost at Oldham on Saturday for the visit of top flight Portsmouth in the Carling Cup third round with Joe Anyinsah starting along side Richard Offiong and Tom Taiwo taking a midfield place with Paul Thirlwell.

It was an explosive start for United with Joe Anyinsah battling his way past Aaron Mokoena when the ball bounced awkwardly inside the area. Mokoena tried to recover but his wild tackle dumped the Carlisle man to the floor just as he shaped to shoot. Ian Harte stepped forward to take the resulting spot kick and he made no mistake as he drilled it into the bottom corner, sending Begovic the wrong way.

Younes Kaboul carried the ball forward in the 10th minute but his shot from distance was never going to trouble Pidgeley. Good football from the visitors two minutes later sent Basinas clear on the left flank and he cut it back to Utaka who was making his way into the box. He pulled the trigger early but he couldn't keep it down and his shot fizzed over the bar.

Matt Robson created space for himself  on 17 minutes as he surged down the wing and his cross brought Anyinsah and Offiong into the 6-yard box. Mokoena did just enough to get it away.

Peter Murphy was in the right place at the right time in the 19th minute when Vanden Borre skipped through a challenge to cross deep. The ball eventually fell to Dindane, but the sturdy defender stuck a boot out just as it angked towards the corner of the net.

Pidgeley had to dive low to gather a dipping free kick that bounced inches in front of him but it was Carlisle who found the telling crosses.

However, Pompey found an equaliser in the 26th minute when a ball through the middle released Utaka. He took it round the advancing Pidgeley and hit the floor dramatically, but Aruna Dindane was there to sweep the loose ball into the empty net.

Pidgeley did well to parry a stinging volley from Utaka when he pounced on a half clearance from a Basinas cross, but Pompey took the lead for the first time on the night when Dindane kept possession tight by the corner flag. The cross came in and Danny Webber glanced a free header beyond the dive of Pidgeley as the defensive inquest began.

Dindane dinked a lobbed effort over the bar as Portsmouth started to get their passing game going and Danny Livesey cleared off the line just before half time when Webber was left completely on his own inside the box. The block went straight to Pidgeley who fell onto it gratefully.

Livesey was involved in everything as half time approached and his deflection from a Basinas shot sent Pidgeley the wrong way, but it was relief all round when the ball spun away for a corner kick.

Half Time: United 1 - 2 Pompey

Peter Murphy came close to an equaliser on 52 minutes when a floated ball into the area landed at his feet. He connected well on the volley but it raced just past the upright with Begovic beaten.

And Joe Anyinsah shaved the woodwork with a neat header on 56 minutes when he peeled away from his man on the edge of the box.

The good work was undone in the 63rd minute when Dindane latched onto a loose pass inside the Carlisle box. His cut back needed a touch Vanden Borre but that set him up to stab the ball beneath Pidgeley and into the back of the net.

Ian Harte curled a 20-yard free kick just wide in the 78th minute as Pompey settled back on their two goal lead, and Joe Anyinsah put one right at Begovic when he was left in space 23-yards from the target.

Keogh hit the post when he met a Hurst cross on the run with seconds left on the clock and Pidgeley completed an excellent save at the other end when Piquionne smashed a Kanu pull back towards the roof of the net.

Goals

United - Harte (3 pen)

Pompey - Dindane (26), Webber (32), Vanden Borre (63)

Teams

Carlisle United - Pidgeley, Raven, Murphy (Bridge-Wilkinson 73), Livesey (Keogh 73), Harte, Hurst, Taiwo (Dobie 77), Thirlwell, Robson, Offiong, Anyinsah. Subs (not used) - Collin, Horwood, Rothery, Madine.

Portsmouth - Begovic, Kaboul, Mokoena, Mullins, Utaka, Vanden Borre, Webber (Piquionne 87), Dindane (Kanu 68), Yebda (Brown 77), Basinas, Belladj. Subs (not used) - Ashdown, Mahoto, Sowah.

Away fans - 569