Carlisle United are back in the relegation zone - but only on goal difference as their rivals failed to win.

The Blues are now 23rd in League Two after Morecambe overtook them with a 2-2 draw at Tranmere Rovers.

But Swindon Town remain bottom after being thrashed 4-0 at Colchester United in their own game in hand.

Things remain extremely tight at the foot of the fourth tier after the latest round of midweek games.

Morecambe twice led at Tranmere before having to settle for a point, Ben Tollitt and Adam Lewis' goals pegged back by Jordan Turnbull and Connor Jennings for the hosts.

The Shrimps go above United on goal difference while Tranmere are 20th, four points above the Blues.

Swindon, meanwhile, suffered a heavy defeat as they went four down at Colchester inside the first half.

Harry Smith's own-goal, a Samson Tovide double and a Jack Payne strike had the U's in control by the 38th minute.

Swindon remain a point behind Carlisle after a seventh successive league game without a win while improving Colchester are now 17th, seven points above the drop zone.

Accrington Stanley are 19th, four points above United, after a 5-2 defeat at Grimsby Town.

Stanley also shipped four first-half goals and were unable to fight back. Harvey Rodgers, Jayden Luker, Justin Obikwu, Jordan Davies (penalty) and a Sonny Aljofree own goal racked up seventh-placed Grimsby's tally, Alex Henderson and Josh Woods replying for Stanley.

They, like Tranmere, have played one game fewer than United.

Harrogate Town are 18th, seven points above Carlisle, after a 2-0 defeat at 11th-placed Salford City for whom Ben Woodburn and ex-United striker Cole Stockton were on target.

Newport County, the Blues' hosts on Saturday, are a point higher in 16th, after a 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon, Shane McLoughlin's injury-time penalty earning a draw for the Exiles, Michael Spellman having earlier cut the deficit after early goals from Alistair Smith and Matty Stevens for the eight-placed Dons.

Other games in the division saw 13th-placed Barrow draw 1-1 at tenth-placed Bradford City, Andy Cook's Bantams goal cancelling out Robbie Gotts' Bluebirds opener.

Cheltenham Town, in 15th, were denied victory over leaders Port Vale by a last-gasp Ronan Curtis goal, George Miller having given the Robins the lead.

MK Dons went third with a 3-0 home win over ninth-placed Chesterfield thanks to a Scott Hogan strike and an Alex Gilbey double.

Second-placed Walsall edged a five-goal thriller by defeating sixth-placed Notts County 3-2, Taylor Allen, George Hall and Nathan Lowe on target for the Saddlers and David McGoldrick's penalty and Jack Hinchy replying for the Magpies.

Two more games in the division are played on Wednesday night with Bromley - three points above Carlisle in 21st - at home to 12th-placed Gillingham, and 14th-placed Fleetwood Town hosting fifth-placed Doncaster Rovers.