Burton Albion 0-1 Carlisle United: Blues claim overdue win

The defender's first-half finish, which may have gone in off the recalled Paul Huntington, was the difference at the Pirelli Stadium.

And Carlisle fended off the hosts to claim their first win and points in nine games - and a first clean sheet in 28 League One outings.

It was a performance of steel and resilience from the Cumbrians, with Huntington outstanding on his return to the side and Harry Lewis making crucial saves in goal as they dealt with an aerial bombardment from the Brewers.

The result made little impression on the table, with bottom-placed United only closing the large gap to survival by one point to 13 points with 12 games to go.

Carlisle celebrate the first-half goal (Image: Richard Parkes)

But it remained a long-overdue night to savour for their loyal 246 travelling fans in this rearranged fixture.

United boss Simpson made two changes to his starting line-up - recalling Huntington and Jack Ellis.

Veteran captain Huntington came into the defence for his first start in a month, while Ellis came in on the right of defence.

Jordan Gibson dropped to the bench while Fin Back was out of the squad, Jack Robinson back among the subs.

Burton boss Martin Paterson named an unchanged XI, with Antwoine Hackford and Rekeem Harper back on the bench.

Carlisle, with Huntington one of three central defenders, started on the front foot and almost caught Burton in the third minute when, after a short free-kick, Jack Diamond ran at the home defence before firing a shot on target, the hosts' ex-Blues keeper Max Crocombe diving to parry it.

Paul Huntington powers a header clear (Image: Richard Parkes)

Paterson's side tried to test United with some aerial deliveries, including the long throws of Tom Hamer. From one, Ryan Sweeney headed against the outside of the post before Joe Powell shot over the bar.

Diamond was booked early on for bringing down Mason Bennett while, several minutes later, the Burton man had to go off injured, Hackford taking his place.

United had plenty of defending to do as Burton looked to get the ball forward early and press the Blues, but Simpson's side had coped by the half's midway point, and almost opened something up on the break when Jon Mellish burst forward from defence, but his cross was too high for the arriving Ellis.

At the other end, Burton came very close to an opener when a cross from the left picked out John Brayford, but Lewis showed good reactions to tip over his close-range header.

Carlisle then built a better spell in the home half and, from it, took the lead.

First, a good period of pressing involving Diamond and Luke Armstrong was followed by Jack Armer being fouled.

Taylor Charters on the attack (Image: Richard Parkes)

Taylor Charters curled over a good free-kick from the left, and Lavelle got away from his man to head across Crocombe and into the bottom right of the net, the goal credited by some sources to Huntington with suggestions he got the final touch.

It was the fourth straight away game in which the Cumbrians had taken the lead, and their defensive efforts from there saw big frontman Ademola Ola-Adebomi head over the bar for Burton before Hamer had handball appeals turned down when he blasted a shot into a blue body.

At the other end, Crocombe dived to hold onto an Armer delivery as Carlisle broke, with Diamond also seeing a shot deflected behind.

Shortly before half-time an Ellis cross flashed just in front of Armstrong while Burton's style of aiming the ball up for their big strikers continued to be dealt with by Huntington and co.

After the break, Burton were soon on the attack and Lewis was called upon again to save from Deji Oshilaja as the Brewers midfielder shot on the turn.

Harry Lewis makes a save from Deji Oshilaja (Image: Richard Parkes)

After a double change, home sub Bobby Kamwa was denied by the Carlisle keeper, while Simpson's defence had to dig deep to deal with other deliveries.

Diamond almost increased the lead for Carlisle on 67 minutes when, from 25 yards, he sent a well-struck effort on target but Crocombe denied him with a flying save.

Kamwa's delivery for Burton then saw Lavelle miscue an attempted clearance but the ball flew safely to Lewis.

Both sides made further changes, Simpson bringing on Dan Butterworth and Jack Robinson for the closing stages, as home sub Joe Hugill shot wide when fed by Ola-Adebomi.

United's players applaud the travelling fans after the victory (Image: Richard Parkes)

Burton played a little more football but still relied on Hamer's long throws while Vela, after going down hurt, was replaced by Alfie McCalmont towards the end as United dug in through four minutes of added time, Huntington making one final block as the Blues closed out a sorely-needed win.

Burton: Crocombe, Brayford (Hugill 72), Sweeney, Nsiala, Bola (Seddon 59), Hamer, Oshilaja, Helm (Kamwa 59), Powell, Bennett (Hackford 18), Ola-Adebomi. Not used: Blackman, Harper, Carayol.

United: Lewis, Ellis, Armer, Huntington, Lavelle, Mellish, Neal, Vela (McCalmont 87), Charters (Robinson 82), Diamond (Butterworth 82), Armstrong. Not used: Breeze, Gibson, Maguire, Grehan.

Goal: Lavelle 28.

Booked: Diamond, Vela.

Ref: Craig Hicks.

Crowd: 2,247 (246 United fans).