New-signing Lubomir Michalik made his debut for the club as Greg Abbott was forced into making a change to the starting eleven for the first time this season as Ian Harte bade a fond farewell and headed off to Reading.

Fellow loanee Ben Marshall took a place on the bench with Jason Price also ready to go on his return from injury.

The Cumbrians had an early chance when a Berrett corner flew across the face of goal. Michalik was millimetres away from getting something onto it, but he couldn't quite make the connection.

Michalik completed the first of his defensive duties on 9 minutes when Amankwaah swung an early ball into the box. The big defender watched it and volleyed it behind for a corner as Pericard lurked.

Carlisle tried to step up the pressure with some decent deliveries into the area from Berrett and Simek, but Lucas was equal to them as he plucked them out of the air.

The Robins lost possession in midfield on 17 minutes and, just for a moment, Zoko raced clear. Amankwaah recovered to make the block as the nippy striker unleashed his shot.

A direct run from Sean McDaid had the Swindon back line back-peddling and Craig Curran took over with a well-placed cross. The Robins cleared and broke quickly but Austin dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box.

James Chester nodded the ball right at Lucas as it pinged around from a Berrett corner, but McGovern was inches away from opening the scoring for Swindon when he latched onto a Pericard nod back. The midfielder connected cleanly but his shot flew just over the bar.

Zoko was unlucky to see his 35th minute header from a corner deflect over the bar, but the Robins defended well as United tried to pepper the box.

Paul Thirlwell sent one over from distance after good work from Zoko had brought a blocked shot for Curran, and Carlisle had to defend in time added on as Austin burst into the box only to have his shot smothered.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 Robins

A flurry of crosses on 50 minutes ended with Michalik trying to steer a Berrett cross into the top corner, and Pericard miscued a volley when Swindon pressed forward as they cleared their lines.

The blue shirts pushed forward at every opportunity but the visitors stayed resolute despite the quality of the delivery.

Austin put a free header at Collin from eight yards out when he really should have done better, and United burst forward in numbers as the keeper distributed it quickly. Zoko fed it onto Madine and the cross brought a diving save from Lucas as he had to react to a touch from his own man.

Madine then won a corner as his header from a Taiwo cross was blocked by Ferry, and Michalik also nodded wide as United kept up the pressure.

Ben Marshall went close to marking his return to the club with a goal on 66 minutes when he slid in to meet a Curran cross, but Ferry did enough to send it behind.

Lucas got enough to a Madine toe-end from a tight angle on 74 minutes as the game remained in the balance, and Michalik had to clear a goal-bound lob off the line as Ball nicked it past the outrushing Collin from a hopeful pass forward.

Douglas was next to be wasteful as he blazed over from the edge of the area, and an inswinging free kick from Berrett went past everyone as it whistled past the far post.

Chester rose well to meet a Robson cross in the final minute but he couldn't keep it down and it rose high into the stands.

Austin was guilty of the miss of the game in time added on when he was sent clear by a back heel from Ball. He hesitated and it appeared to come off his shin as it whipped over the target.

The same man missed again when he tried to spin and volley but it was a difficult chance from a tight angle and it bobbled harmlessly wide.

Teams 

United - Collin, Simek, Chester, Michalik, McDaid, Thirlwell, Berrett, Taiwo (Robson 78), Zoko (Marshall 66), Madine, Curran. Subs - Caig, Murphy, Kavanagh, Price, Kane.

Robins - Lucas, Cuthbert, Douglas, McGovern, Ferry, Pericard (Ball 64), Timlin (O'Brien 73), Morrison, Amankwaah, Kennedy (Sheehan 53), Austin. Subs - Prutton, Lecsinel, Dossevi, Smith.

Away fans - 264