Against a more technically gifted side the Cumbrians again showed great character when, as on Tuesday night at Hull, they had to defend for long periods.

With the news that prospective buyer John Courtenay starts a due diligence exercise on the clubs affairs today, Carlisle’s long suffering fans are now showing signs of cautious optimism both on and off the pitch.

Manager Roddy Collins is desperate to have the future of the club sorted as soon as possible as injuries have reduced his squad to the bare bones. Collins needs to bring more players in but his hands are tied due to the transfer embargo imposed by the Football League through the clubs failure to repay a loan from the PFA.

He said after the game “Injuries to key players are really starting to hurt and we need to bring additional cover into the squad but my hands are tied. We needed the likes of Brendan McGill today. When you’re defending for long periods you need a player like Brendan who can carry the ball into areas and retain possession and give you some relief. I need to get others capable of doing that.

“The lads were great but team spirit alone doesn’t get you results. Organisation is the key and the players being capable of absorbing the information they’re given. We’ve tidied up a lot, we don’t just work on endeavour. But there were times when we were one nil up we gave silly balls away trying to get number two. You don’t have to win two nil and if we had been a little bit more composed in certain areas we wouldn’t have put ourselves under the cosh. It’s just a learning process and you don’ build a team overnight.”

Luton dominated from the whistle, the first chance coming on 5 minutes when Ahmet Brkovic headed wide from an Emmerson Boyce cross.

Boyce then rifled an effort over the bar and a jinking run from Dean Crowe ended with Luton’s top scorer firing wide.

On 29 minutes the Hatters were unfortunate not to take the lead when Matthew Spring’s piledriver, from the edge of the box, rocked Peter Keen’s crossbar.

With Carlisle seeing so little of the ball it was ironic that they almost took the lead with 36 minutes gone when Steve Soley fired home a loose ball only to find Ian Stevens had strayed into an offside position, although not appearing to interfere with the play.

The Cumbrians began the second half showing a more positive approach and took the lead on 51 minutes. Russell Perrett failed to clear Stuart Green’s corner and Soley reacted quickest to head home.

The goal stung Luton into action and the equaliser came with 67 minutes gone. A Valois cross was headed on by Bayliss leaving Perrett free to head home.

Keen then saved from Forbes and brilliantly turned a Valois shot round the post before the woodwork again saved the Cumbrians. Valois got away down the right before pulling a cross to the far post for Forbes to head against the bar.

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