Carlisle United 2-3 Fleetwood Town: Blues lose despite Wyke brace

United came from two goals down to level but Danny Mayor then struck a 68th-minute winner for the visitors.

It meant a fifth defeat in six league games for the third-bottom Blues, who are expected to appoint a new head coach and sporting director soon.

Their need for improvement remains stark after the latest setback at Brunton Park in front of a 7,090 crowd.

A dismal start saw Charlie Adam's visitors 2-0 up by the 19-minute mark after Mayor and Ronan Coughlan took advantage of some sloppy and disjointed Carlisle play.

Wyke pulled one back from the penalty spot before half-time and then fired the Blues level early in the second half.

But United could not consolidate their comeback and Mayor then fired his second to send Adam's side home with the points.

It was a third game in all competitions under United's caretakers Steven Rudd, Jamie Devitt and Mark Birch, and the trio made four changes - two enforced, two not - to the XI that had started at Bradford City the previous weekend.

Ben Williams and Terell Thomas were out with injury while Josh Vela and Harrison Neal dropped to the bench.

Taking their places came Cameron Harper, fit-again Aaron Hayden, Sam Lavelle and Dylan McGeouch.

It was a full league debut for Harper and a first league outing of the campaign for McGeouch, while Dominic Sadi started at home in the league for the first time, but Daniel Adu-Adjei was again missing with injury.

Fleetwood went ahead early on (Image: Ben Holmes)

In Neal's case the decision ended a 26-game run of league starts since he made his debut in January.

Fleetwood boss Adam made two changes, with Coughlan and full debutant Rhys Bennett coming in for Elliott Bonds and Kayden Hughes.

Carlisle lined up with Jon Mellish in midfield, but the visitors settled into things the quicker and a flurry of early half-chances resulted in Mark Helm's second-minute shot spinning away for a corner.

Later, Helm turned and sent Graydon running beyond Lavelle, but Hayden came across to limit the danger.

United, though, were sloppy in possession on more than one occasion and this cost them in the 11th minute.

Harper was caught on the ball on the left and Adam's side worked it forward and to the left, before Mayor beat two Blues defenders with his quick footwork before finding space to fire across Harry Lewis and into the bottom corner.

United nearly levelled a minute later when Mellish broke through midfield, but his powerful low finish hit the outside of the post.

But Carlisle's display remained far from cohesive and Fleetwood got further in front on the 19-minute mark.

This time it was McGeouch who was tackled in midfield before Fleetwood sent Coughlan away from Lavelle and, as the flag stayed down, the frontman fired his shot high past Lewis.

Carlisle were aggrieved at their failure to get a decision in the build-up and Hayden was booked for his protests.

Charlie Wyke's first goals of the season brought United level - but Fleetwood then struck a winner (Image: Ben Holmes)

United struggled to create anything in response and Coughlan had another attempt, high into the Warwick this time, as Fleetwood continued to play the brighter football.

Ryan Graydon, first to the dropping ball, tested United with a shot from the left and though Carlisle gradually saw more of the ball, chances were scarce.

One came Harrison Biggins' way when he was fed by Sadi after a counter-attack, but he pulled his shot wide from the left.

United, though, then did halve the deficit when Jones, dribbling in from the left, drew a late challenge from Brendan Wiredu and went over in the box.

Ref Scott Tallis pointed to the spot and, although keeper David Harrington went the right way, Wyke's penalty was too good and Carlisle had a goal back.

Hayden denied Coughlan the chance to restore Fleetwood's two-goal lead before the break before United ended the half with some late and much-needed gusto.

United's caretakers introduced Luke Armstrong at half-time, the striker replacing Sadi as Carlisle reverted to 3-5-2.

Mackenzie Hunt shot over from a decent position for the visitors before Wyke was denied a close-range equaliser by a last-ditch challenge as Biggins crossed from the left.

But the captain then did level for United in the 53rd minute.

McGeouch was the provider with some sharp work down the right before his curling low cross was perfect for Wyke to convert clinically.

Carlisle were now much more vibrant and it took a block and a save respectively for Fleetwood to deny Jones and Armstrong.

Visiting boss Adam made a triple change on the hour mark, introducing Elliott Bonds for Hunt, Phoenix Patterson for Helm and Kian Harratt for Graydon.

United applied further pressure, Armstrong unable to make the most of a Mellish cross and Harper curling a free-kick just over.

But moments after the Blues made their second change, Vela replacing McGeouch, the visitors got back in front.

One of the Fleetwood subs, Phoenix Patterson, crossed from the left and when it broke, Mayor was in space to rifle it first-time past Lewis.

Carlisle tried to find another way back, sub Vela denied by Harrington's save, but United otherwise struggling to create, visiting sub Elliott Bonds denied by a block as Adam's side looked for a clinching fourth.

United sent on 17-year-old forward Freddie O'Donoghue for his league debut in the dying minutes, but Carlisle could not summon any creativity and it was yet another defeat.

United: Lewis, Davies, Harper, Lavelle, Hayden (O’Donoghue 89), McGeouch (Vela 67), Biggins (Neal 82), Mellish, Jones, Sadi (Armstrong 46), Wyke. Not used: Breeze, Ellis, Barclay.

Goals: Wyke 41pen, 53.

Booked: Hayden, Biggins, Davies, Jones.

Fleetwood: Harrington, Johnston, Bennett (Bolton 71), Holgate, Hunt (Bonds 61), Virtue (Broom 71), Graydon (Harratt 61), Mayor, Helm (Patterson 61), Coughlan. Not used: Lynch, Lonergan.

Goals: Mayor 11, 68; Coughlan 19.

Booked: Helm, Virtue, Coughlan, Johnston..

Ref: Scott Tallis.

Crowd: 7,090 (332 Fleetwood fans).