Port Vale 0 Carlisle United 0: Carlisle United extended their unbeaten start to the League Two season with an eventful goalless tussle at Port Vale.

The hosts hit the woodwork while the Blues had plenty of first-half pressure but neither side could find a way through.

Vale came closest when ex-United man David Amoo hit the post late on.

Carlisle's better chances came before the break with George Tanner going close.

Chris Beech brought on Zach Clough and Brad Young for their debuts but it was a second 0-0 draw in three league games for the Cumbrians.

In front of 284 travelling fans in a 4,943 crowd, United's unchanged XI started on the front foot in an end-to-end opening spell, forcing half-chances for Tristan Abrahams and George Tanner, who warmed Lucas Covolan’s gloves from 25 yards. 

Carlisle were grateful to Jack Armer for a timely tackle when Brad Walker slotted David Worrall through the right channel, before Magnus Norman touched a Nathan Smith overhead kick against the bar after a weak punch.

United snapped back again, Tanner zipping another 25-yarder just wide.

At the other end, Devante Rodney wasted a good headed chance from Jamie Proctor’s cross, before Brennan Dickenson saw a shot deflected close for the Blues.

A last-ditch United block denied Walker after Vale had overpowered Carlisle at a high delivery, and then Abrahams failed to beat Covolan when Carlisle outnumbered Vale on the break. 

Worrall was denied at the death by Armer after sneaking onto a long ball late in the first half.

Riley had a couple of attempts and Jon Mellish miscued an Abrahams lay-off in the second half, but Carlisle lacked much in the way of real penetration from here.

Rodney, on the hour, couldn’t finish when fed in a useful central position. After Clough and Young came on for Carlisle, Worrall saw a scissor-kick deflect behind and Walker failed to lob Norman accurately after the keeper had punched a hanging cross. 

The closest shave came on 82 minutes when sub Amoo, cutting in against his former club, rattled a shot through Norman and hit the near post.

Carlisle survived corners and further pressure but kept their goal intact.

Port Vale: Covolan, Jones, Walker, Legge, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Benning (Amoo 75), Pett, Proctor (Wilson 67), Rodney. Not used: Stone, Cass, Martin, Johnson, Politic. 

United: Norman, Tanner, Armer (Feeney 85), McDonald, Whelan, Guy, Riley, Mellish, Dickenson, Alessandra (Clough 66), Abrahams (Young 78). Not used: Jensen, Charters, Mampala, Bell. 

Booked: Abrahams, Dickenson. 

Ref: Paul Howard. 

Crowd: 4,943 (284 Carlisle fans)