It was back to league action at the County Ground on Saturday afternoon as the Blues faced Swindon Town with their new manager Richie Wellens taking charge of his first game.
Captain Danny Grainger was a late drop-out as he complained of a calf injury - the opposite leg to his recent troubles - during the Friday training session.
Manager John Sheridan opted to play three at the back in his absence, with Yates [left] and Sowerby [right] pushed wide in a five-man midfield.
The game took a while to get going but a nice pass from Taylor allowed McGlashan to sprint clear wide on the right with five minutes on the clock. His cross was met by Anderson but a firm downward header bounced wide of the post.
More danger came from the right wing when Woolfenden and McGlashan combined to work their way through. Woolfenden aimed for the back post but Liddle was there to guide it away.
United had set piece situations in their favour, but the Robins sent everyone back leaving no room to move at all. The Woolfenden and McGlashan pairing caused more problems when a Carlisle corner routine broke down, but the cross was hooked clear by Gerrard as Iandolo arrived late in the box.
A half chance for Iandolo went the way of the corner flag as he missed his kick when a header from Gerrard rolled his way, and United thought they'd found a way through at the other end when Slater overlapped to get into the box. His cut back was just too far away from Nadesan as he looked for an angle to shoot.
Swindon came again when Iandolo went past his man to deliver a cross towards a ruck of red shirts who had made their way into the area. Dunne threw his boot at it but he was off balance and it sailed over the bar.
Free kick deliveries from Devitt had the home side stretched on the half hour and a quickly taken corner saw Hope lose his man before laying it off for a shot. It was a tight angle but Devitt caught it well, and he was disappointed to see it dip over the bar.
Carlisle should have done much better when Devitt stepped in to rob the ball off Adebayo on the edge of his own box. He quickly fed it to Yates, and he turned his man before sending Sowerby clean through. The midfielder opted to shoot early, with just Vigouroux to beat, and it was relatively easy for the keeper as it came at him at a catchable height.
The Blues started to look the more likely and they took the lead when Devitt floated a superb pass down the right wing. Sowerby took it under his control and his pull back was met by Ashley Nadesan, who registered his eighth goal of the season with a lovely clipped shot which found the back of the net via the base of the post.
Collin had a 40-yard stinger from Taylor to deal with just before half time, and Iandolo missed an absolute sitter in time added on when Taylor whipped a free kick from wide across the face of goal. Iandolo was completely unhindered but he failed to get any purchase on his volley and the moment was gone.
The Cumbrians doubled their lead within 50 seconds of the restart when Gary Liddle picked a wonderful 40-yard pass for Nadesan to challenge for. His nod down bounced up off the surface and Regan Slater scored his first goal for the club in emphatic style as he drilled a thumping volley into the top corner.
The afternoon became even more comfortable for the visitors on 54 minutes when Jamie Devitt placed the ball for a 19-yard free kick. Vigouroux was nothing more than a spectator and the ball angled over the wall and flew into his unguarded goal.
The Robins were rocked, and they were pushed further back on their heels when another lightning quick break took Hope from attack to defence. He had options left and right, but Slater called for it and his first touch brought him inside as he ran in front of two challenges. Vigouroux was once again left with no chance as the shot whipped past his dive.
It was over as a contest, with 25 minutes still left to play, but a spin from Twine and a low cross from Taylor suggested that Swindon wanted to add a consolation notch to the scoresheet. Iandolo tried to do just that with a shot from distance which angled an inch over the target.
Collin needed to save late from Alzate, when he went down to his left to tip the ball wide, and that confirmed that a clean sheet could be added to what had been the best display of the campaign so far.
+++++++
Goals
Carlisle United - Nadesan (41), Slater (46, 65), Devitt (54)
+++++++
Teams
Swindon Town - Vigouroux, Nelson, McGlashan, Dunne (Smith 30), Anderson, Alzate, Iandolo, Adebayo (Twine 69), Conroy (Knoyle 69), Taylor, Woolfenden. Subs - McCormick, McCourt, Lancashire, Richards.
Carlisle United - Collin, Liddle, Gerrard (Miller 81), Gillesphey, Yates, Jones, Slater, Devitt (Campbell 75), Sowerby, Nadesan (McCarron 72), Hope. Subs - Gray, Glendon, Bennett.
+++++++
Referee - Mr Graham Salisbury
Attendance - 6,722 (302 away fans)