Cambridge United's Neil Harris on Carlisle United thrashing

The visitors hit four to claim an emphatic win at Brunton Park.

Harris was delighted with his team’s showing but felt their tally could have been higher with even more ruthlessness.

“I’m really proud of the players’ performance,” Harris said.

“We knew playing against Carlisle, a team at the bottom of the league, they’d come out fast, and we had to stand strong for ten minutes.

“We knew they were going to try and dominate the ball – they’re trying to adjust, trying to be different – but it’s where you let them have the ball that’s important.

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“We made sure we forced turnover after turnover today, and we scored goals – but it could have been seven, eight, nine, whatever you wanted it to be.”

Cambridge moved up to 16th and are now six points above the drop zone and 18 above the bottom-placed Blues.

Goals from Sullay Kaikai, a Sam Lavelle own-goal, Elias Kachunga and Ryan Bennett left Carlisle well adrift in the Brunton Park game and sealed the U's biggest win of the season.

Harry Lewis's late save from Adam May denied Cambridge a fifth goal (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“We could have been a slightly better version of us in the first ten minutes, but sometimes you have to credit the opponent – they’re playing at home, they’re in a precarious position where I felt they had to win the game today, and we had to stand strong,” added Harris in a club interview.

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“That’s where you rely on your experience and moments of defensive qualities to see that through. But once the first goal goes in, that was the game set there.

“We knew the first goal was going to be key. To get that knocked the stuffing out of the stadium and we grew in confidence.

“The only disappointment for the attacking players is they haven’t scored more goals between them.”