Keith Curle hailed Carlisle United's defensive strength after their gutsy draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup.

The Blues held the Owls to a 0-0 draw that earned them a replay at Hillsborough and a place in Monday night's fourth round draw.

Wednesday hit the woodwork twice before Carlisle's Sam Cosgrove had a goal disallowed for offside in front of a 7,793 crowd, including 1,916 travelling fans.

Manager Curle felt his players' discipline was all-important against the Championship outfit.

"The pleasing thing was the attention to detail the players paid to our game plan," Curle said.

"We had to nullify their quality balls into our final third. Some people might say [it was] negative or parking the bus, but out of respect and understanding of the game, we had to let them keep the ball and let them have dominance in areas of the pitch we felt weren't going to expose us.

"Barring the first two minutes when they had the header [Atdhe Nuhiu hit the crossbar] they had one other shot in the first half.

"With their change of formation that left them probably outnumbered in midfield, we had more dominance of the ball and forward progression in the second half.

"But defensively the players understood their roles very well. Barring a 10-minute period where we got slightly disjointed and they caused us problems with their movement, the players settled into it and gave a solid defensive performance."

Curle felt his defence and goalkeeper deserved particular praise for earning a clean sheet.

"The back five were gritty and determined, and [keeper] Jack Bonham was superb when called upon," the manager said.

"He made a couple of Championship match-winning saves. Everything he came for and caught, he showed safe hands, and his distribution was decent. A lot of ticks in a lot of boxes."

United and the Owls will be ball 32 in tomorrow night's draw.

The replay will be on Tuesday, January 16, provided it is not moved for television.

Carlisle have asked fans to keep their tickets from Saturday's game, as they will be used in a priority scheme for ticket sales if they reach the fourth round.

New Owls manager, Jos Luhukay, will be at the helm for the replay having watched Saturday's game from the stand as Lee Bullen remained in caretaker charge.

Ex-Sheffield United player Curle insisted Carlisle are very much alive in the tie. He said: "Sheffield Wednesday are more of a force at the minute away from home.

"I've played at their stadium a few times and when things aren't going right for them it can be a nervous place for their players.

"I thought I we could nullify their threat [on Saturday] and make it a proper cup tie, and down at their place then you never know - the FA Cup can bring some surprises.

"They'll have a new manager, a big stadium and a partisan crowd that will be focused on giving me stick, which I take.

"I won't say I'll enjoy it - not like Neil Warnock, he used to enjoy it - but I'll absorb it. There's little you can do in front of 15-20,000 supporters collectively, but individually it might be different."

Curle also saluted Clint Hill for his role in United's shut-out on a milestone day for the 39-year-old.

The veteran defender was making his 650th senior appearance.

Curle said: "Clint enjoyed it. He had the check at half-time to see if his heart rate monitor was still monitoring - I think it only registered that he'd moved 300 yards, from edge of the 18-yard box to the middle of our half in a straight line!

"But that shows we weren't being stretched or opened up. Defensively we dealt with what came in the box very well."

Reggie Lambe will be assessed after limping off with an ankle injury in Saturday's closing stages. Curle said Luke Joyce could return against Crewe next weekend.