Carlisle United have suspended three teenage players over social media comments.

The Blues have announced the measures amid criticism over some of their squad for remarks made on Snapchat ahead of Tuesday's Cumberland Cup defeat to Carlisle City.

It emerged that some young United players had used the social media platform to claim they were about to take on a team of "50-year-olds".

The Blues went on to lose to their non-league opponents - after which City manager Jim Nichols said some of the United contingent needed to "have a look at themselves" over the social media comments.

And now the Brunton Park club have confirmed that three of their under-18 players have been suspended "with immediate effect".

A club statement added "This follows social media comments made before the game, relating to the opposition in the Cumberland Cup semi-final at Gillford Park on Tuesday night.

"The club is investigating and there will be no further comment at this stage."

Screenshots of Snapchat comments referring to Tuesday's opposition as "50-year-olds" were posted on Twitter after the game by some opposition players.

City boss Nichols also said the disparaging pre-match remarks came back to bite the Blues as underdogs City won the Cumberland Cup semi-final 2-1.

“Our players will be absolutely buzzing,” Nichols told the News & Star after the game.

“A couple of their players have put a couple of things on Snapchat which weren’t great, saying they were playing a pub team and a bunch of 50-year-old lads, and stuff like that – and they’ve been turned over by them.

“They need to have a look at themselves, saying that about lads who are working, semi-pro lads.

“But my lads…that’s what we expect of them, to work hard - and they’ve outworked them. It’s every credit to them.”

READ MORE: Carlisle City boss: Snapchat comments from young Carlisle United players backfired in Cumberland Cup