If Max Crocombe progresses towards a positive Brunton Park career then at least 1,253 people will be able to say they were there from the outset. A home debut in front of such a tiny crowd can still be a big occasion for a goalkeeper desperate for a chance.

As he stood between the posts at the Warwick Road End in Tuesday's first half, only a black flag, featuring the New Zealand silver fern, kept Crocombe company behind his goal. In the second half against Blackburn's Under-21s, the Waterworks End was, as usual, also vacated.

Only a cluster of 49 Blackburn fans occupied the Pioneer Foods Stand. Most of those who did turn up for the Checkatrade Trophy tie were either in the Paddock or Main Stand.

These empty areas shaped the debate on Tuesday night's tie, and the wider debacle of the Trophy. On the pitch, though, it was simply up to Keith Curle's players to play, to concentrate on the job asked of them.

They did so by extending unbeaten form that has now reached 15 games, over 90 minutes, in all competitions this season. Crocombe has featured in just two of them - both in the Trophy - and such as been the reliability of first-choice Mark Gillespie he has had to wait this long to make his first appearance at Carlisle's ground.

That he ended it with a clean sheet was an obvious reason to be satisfied, no matter the thin attendance. "With game-time being a bit limited, it's good to get some games in this competition," Crocombe said. "And as long as there's a zero next to your name at the end of it, it's all good.

"I thought it was a good game. There were one or two things I could tidy up on, but I was happy. There were some great players playing - a Champions League winner in Wes Brown, Anthony Stokes up front was excellent - and it was a good test between youth and experience, which is what the competition's all about.

"It doesn't matter who you are, you need to be playing games. So it's just a pleasure to get on the pitch and become more familiar with the players."

Crocombe, who signed for United in the summer after leaving Oxford, admits that such familiarity can only really come with games, even though he describes the training environment at the club as a positive one, and in particular seems to be relishing the work set by goalkeeping coach Simon Tracey.

There is nothing to rival competitive action - and motivation, the 23-year-old says, was not hard to summon even in front of Brunton Park's lowest crowd for 24 years.

"We're professional," he said. "You want to play in front of as many fans as possible, and I know some fans haven't taken to the competition, but for us it's another game of football.

"It's a competitive fixture. There's no problem in terms of getting motivated. It's another chance to showcase your ability. The crowd wasn't the same as a league game but I know there's been a lot worse in the competition.

"For me it was good to get out on the pitch. It's a fantastic playing surface and I'm just delighted. I like crossing off the little landmarks, and next time it [my home debut] won't be a thing."

Crocombe's introduction to first-team action, in the same competition in late August, was Carlisle's wild 5-4 victory at Oldham. He must have been relieved to enjoy a slightly more conventional night second time around?

"The game at Oldham was a crazy one, a bit of a one-off," he smiles. "I enjoyed this one, definitely.

"It's a new system for me, to be playing out so much with the ball. So it's just a case of getting the decisions right, when to play and when to go long. But I think it was close to a really good performance. The defenders were excellent. Some of the balls that were flying just out of my range in the box, they got their head on it, they were excellent.

"Everyone before the game said no matter what the competition is, we need to win the game, it's as simple as that. And long may that continue."

The last line is a glimpse at the defiant attitude that has taken United on their remarkable run, which includes a club Football League record 11-game unbeaten start in League Two.

Mainly so far Crocombe's part in this has been supporting, rather than in the front line, and while he hopes eventually to be Carlisle's regular No1, there is still plenty to enjoy in the work Curle's squad is doing right now.

"I remember saying when I signed that sometimes you're not playing and you just have to do your one per cent on the bench," Crocombe said. "I've been doing that, keeping the lads going, encouraging them and all the rest of it.

"When Mark's unavailable I'll be ready to be called on.

"In terms of the unbeaten run, for me it's no surprise because every day in training the lads are always at it. It's a great atmosphere where it's very enjoyable, but also very serious when it needs to be. It's a very professional bunch of players who push each other on. It's been a pleasure to be a part of.

"But nothing's been done yet, and we'll keep going and keep kicking on."

Crocombe accepts that Curle owes him no "explanation" at the moment about his status as understudy to Gillespie, which will most probably resume when the Blues to go Morecambe in the league on Saturday.

This does not, though, mean a lack of hunger to make the manager's decision more difficult. In the meantime, the training-ground work set by Tracey appears to be keeping both United's keepers alert.

"He [Tracey] has been very consistent with what he asks from me," Crocombe said. "I'm taking on board a lot of things every day, which is really good, because I like getting other people's ideas. I love learning and seeing how different players and coaches view the game.

"In a lot of ways he's different to other goalkeeping coaches I've had in the past. Everyone has their own styles, but I really like how particular he is with certain things, like footwork and stuff.

"If you're a little bit more closed-minded, it might be hard to take on board at times, and it might be seen to be too particular - but I really like how fine-detailed he goes into it.

"It's excellent for me. I've got a lot of time up here when I'm not playing football, by myself, and it's great to think of when I'm not playing."

Crocombe, who was born in Auckland but grew up in Milton Keynes, is enjoying a further aspect of life with United. "It's a little bit cheaper up here than down south, which is a very pleasant surprise." Now the goalkeeper awaits the next chance to show his value to the Blues.