
Carlisle United might be down and out, but they can still do damage to others trying to avoid a similar fate.
Last night they grabbed a 1-0 win at Cheltenham which kept their hosts firmly embedded in the drop zone. They had previously won 1-0 at Burton Albion who are also now in the bottom four.
Cheltenham had gone into the game knowing a win would lift them out of the bottom four for the first time since mid-August, but they were second-best in a largely uninspiring first-half.
Joe Nuttall had a great chance to put the home side in front after only six minutes but he steered a shot wide from a great position.
Carlisle also had their moments as the new strike pairing missed opportunities. Georgie Kelly had a shot saved by Town keeper Luke Southwood while Luke Armstrong shot wide.
After Jack Armer had got forward, only to blaze over the bar, the Cumbrians made the breakthrough three minutes before half-time.
Ben Barclay got on the end of a Jack Robinson corner to head back across goal where Sam Lavelle was close in to force home.
Cheltenham switched formation in the second-half after making four substitutions and that seemed to produce instant results.
They were having more possession and territory but they rarely troubled Harry Lewis the United keeper. Instead it was Southwood who had to make the best save, going full length to keep out an effort from Jon Mellish.
Afterwards manager Paul Simpson said: “It was one of those games where we knew we’d have to roll our sleeves up and put tin hats on.
“We knew we’d need to defend for our lives and that’s absolutely what we did. They’ve put so many balls into the box, but I don’t think Harry Lewis has had a save to make.
“They all really earned the clean sheet. We knew they’d have to earn it as Cheltenham are fighting for their lives, but I thought our players showed incredible character even though we already know our fate.”