Manager Keith Curle said Carlisle United did all their talking on the pitch as they stormed back to form with a 5-0 win at Crewe.

The Blues' biggest league win for 16 months marked a remarkable return to winning ways.

And Curle, who saw new signing Clint Hill enjoy a strong debut, said the display was a good response to recent criticism.

"There have been questions asked about all the players in the squad," he said.

"You can do your talking through media outlets, say the right things, be seen to be saying the right things - but ultimately when you're a player, you get the opportunity to go out and perform, and do your talking on the pitch.

"This [game] says a lot about the players, supporters and the football club. The football club has been taking a knock, people have been asking questions - is it still there, can I motivate a team, do they believe in me?

"No matter what I say, I've got to get my players to do my talking on the pitch.

"The supporters were absolutely phenomenal. They keep the belief and trust in the players. Only two weeks ago they were signing a song on the terraces that I didn't like.

"To the questions…that's a good answer. It shows what we're trying to do."

Skipper Danny Grainger grabbed United's first goal, the second from the penalty spot after ex-Blues defender Michael Raynes brought down Reggie Lambe.

Raynes' day against his old club then got worse as he scored an own-goal, before Lambe and sub Hallam Hope completed the rout as Carlisle moved up to 15th in League Two.

Curle added: "We've been knocked, we haven't got the results that we wanted, and no matter who you are, you get affected by exterior comments and the attitude of other people towards you.

"My job is to keep the belief, keep trying to find the extra piece of the jigsaw, and the players showed good awareness of what's required, good adaptability and above all a willingness and belief of what they were asked to do.

"Once the first goal, the right side of Carlisle United was coming out, but we had to earn it.

"The majority of our supporters have been absolutely phenomenal. We haven't had things go our way and, in the modern game the 10-12 vocal ones seem to be a bigger deal of the mood and opinion of our fans.

"But I've got belief in me as an individual and the job I do for the football club. I will make mistakes, I'm not scared to make mistakes, and changes, and decisions that I think are for the betterment of the club.

"We needed the win. I can have as many scenarios and quotes as you want, and most of them are done to protect the changing room, but I know that to get wins there can't be any fractions or fragments.

"Throughout this difficult period, the changing room has stayed solid. We kept that belief. Credit to the lads."

Hill, 38, went straight into the defence in place of Mark Ellis, and Curle said: "Clint will be in bed for two days now!

"He did the simple things very well. He was organising and is a vocal character.

"One thing I like about Clint is he does the right things at the right times, both on the pitch and off it.

"He's somebody that we needed, somebody that has been there, seen it, done it. Good players do the simple things repeatedly very well. That's a sign of a good player and why a player's played at the higher level."

Curle confirmed that Kelvin Etuhu was substituted because of cramp in the second half and the midfielder will be fine to continue against Stevenage tomorrow.

Jason Kennedy, meanwhile, was "rested" from Saturday's squad and will be assessed today before a decision on whether he can return tomorrow.

Curle said: "At the minute I feel Jason in games is operating at something like 70 per cent, and sometimes the reaction to playing in those games means he's only training at 60 per cent.

"In football, resting at the right times is as important as your work. The work Jason's putting in is taking its toll. He couldn't train how Jason wants to train.

"I told him to have the weekend off. Jason wants to train every minute of every day, but I said to take a rest, and when he's available, give me 45 minutes, give me an hour, and then take three days off.

"It's difficult but you've got to do it. He doesn't want to do that. But I'd rather have Jason available for games rather than training sessions."

The Blues' last 5-0 win in the league came at Notts County in May 2016

United's youth team lost 1-0 at Rochdale on Saturday.