Blues boss Paul Simpson says Ryan Edmondson’s stoppage-time stunner at Swindon was a well-earned reward for the way he has fought back from injury.

The Carlisle United striker’s 96th-minute winner came on his first game back in the first team since December.

Edmondson was sidelined with a shoulder injury in that month’s defeat to Northampton Town.

And after three months of hard graft behind the scenes, he was the Blues’ hero in their 2-1 win at Swindon.

“It’s absolutely brilliant – he’s worked so hard to keep himself right,” said Simpson of the former Leeds United man.

“As soon as he could, after surgery, he was on with his broom handle and making sure he got his shoulder strength back up and got the stability in the joint.

READ MORE: Our big match verdict on the Blues' dramatic win at Swindon

“He’s worked hard on his fitness. I still think there’s a rustiness about him but there will be.

“But that [goal] will give him a lift, it will give everybody in the group a lift, the staff a lift and 500-odd supporters who were here and however many thousand who were listening back home.”

It was summer signing Edmondson’s sixth goal of the season – while all four of his league goals for the Blues have been headers.

It came from an Owen Moxon corner in the dying moments of the game.

Simpson was delighted with the way Carlisle forced the crucial set-piece chance from Swindon’s defence.

“I liked the way we pressed, because the ball is going back to the keeper but we worked and we pressed and we tried to get around them,” the manager said.

“The keeper made a mistake, and he gave a cheap corner away. Then you have to have that composure to be able to put that delivery on the money.

“Mox did that and Edmo was there to nod it in.”