Carlisle have notched a mere two wins from their last eleven league games whilst winning four out of five games in cup competition.

The cup replay at home to Scunthorpe on Thursday night heralds the biggest game of the season so far, with the reward of a money-spinning home tie with Premiership side Leeds United, the tantalising prize for the victors.

The replay is a “must win” game for Carlisle, whose finances will be given a much needed cash boost, following the recent lifting of the administration order they had been under since the summer.

Their defeat on Saturday, to a winner three minutes from time, was a bitter pill to swallow but defensive frailties were to blame again as individual errors lost the points.

Manager Roddy Collins was understandably livid and coach Tony Elliott was left to face the media after the game. He said: “We got ourselves into a good position against a good side that we knew would come at us, but we let ourselves down by being unprofessional. We have got to learn to sometimes do the simple thing and clear the danger and to lose it in the dying minutes has left everybody gutted.”

Wrexham’s quick passing football soon had Carlisle on the back foot, Steve Roberts firing wide from thirty yards before Carlisle stole the lead with virtually their first meaningful attack on five minutes.

Middlesborough loan player Mark Hudson picked the ball up midway into the Wrexham half before finding Richie Foran with a slide rule pass. Foran did well to hold off a challenge from Shaun Pejic before drawing keeper Paul Whitfield to slot into the bottom corner.

It was the perfect start for the Cumbrians but they failed to capitalise as Wrexham took a stranglehold in midfield, their pace proving a valuable weapon.

Matty Glennon saved well after a Steve Thomas shot took a deflection off Brian Shelley and the keeper then brilliantly turned away a stinging shot from Lee Trundle who had turned well on the edge of the box.

Carlisle were finding it difficult to build any significant possession but Hudson did manage to force Whitfield into a full length save before the inevitable equaliser came with 33 minutes gone.

Des Byrne dithered in possession 30 yards out and was dispossessed by Lee Jones who hammered a shot from 25 yards which took a deflection off Michael Taylor, leaving Glennon to readjust too late to stop the goal.

Carlisle had a let-off a minute into the second half when Wrexham had the ball in the net when Glennon saved from Barrett and Edwards pounced to hammer the loose ball home only to be ruled offside.

Glennon had to be alert to save from Jones after Edwards had robbed Darren Kelly on the edge of the box and Thomas curled a shot narrowly wide.

But Carlisle were unlucky not to regain the lead with 53 minutes gone. Kelly got on the end of a Byrne free kick to send a diving header heading for the bottom corner only for Whitfield to produce a stunning save low to his left.

Whitfield then produced the save of the game to turn a rasping 35 yard Brian Shelley shot over the bar.

But Wrexham stole the points with three minutes remaining, substitute Hector Sam firing home after Jones had caught the Carlisle defence flatfooted with a precise through ball.

Foran then missed a sitter, blasting over Kelly’s headed through ball and was then shown a straight red card for elbowing Barrett to complete another sorry afternoon for the Cumbrians.