Keith Curle admitted his "massive" pride at his team's part in Carlisle United history - and then targeted more milestones.

The Blues, now in the automatic promotion places, are record-breakers after going 11 games unbeaten at this start of this League Two season.

The impressive feat was watched on Saturday by Curle's old mentor Clive Middlemass, who set the club's previous Football League record of 10 games unbeaten at the start of the 1989/90 campaign.

And the 2-0 win against Colchester, clinched by second-half goals from Jason Kennedy and Jabo Ibehre, has now put the Blues in sight of the all-time club record of 13 games set by Paul Simpson's Conference team in 2004.

Boss Curle said: "I'm massively proud - and what's also pleasing is this is the highest we've been in the league since I've been here.

"It shows we're building momentum, and that there's a core at the club now with solidarity, unity and all facing the same direction.

"You can tell there's a vibrancy about Carlisle United that hasn't been here for a while. It's got to be good to be part of that.

"Now we need to find another record to break.

"It was fantastic to see Clive Middlemass here - I saw him in the boardroom before the game - and it will be good hopefully to invite Paul Simpson down next.

"They are part of the foundation and fabric of this club. They are part of history here and the work they've done should be well documented."

Curle was also pleased that United's victory, which took them third, was achieved by a pair of set-piece goals.

Kennedy stabbed home from close-range in the 50th minute after a Nicky Adams corner, while sub Ibehre headed home a Danny Grainger set-piece.

Curle said: "We spend a good amount of time on set-pieces, and it can be a little bit mundane, a little bit boring and mind-numbing, but it gets results.

"We've been drilling it into the players about set-plays. And we looked dangerous from them."

Curle admitted Carlisle did not have things all their own way against a Colchester side who tested his team with their passing and movement.

But he felt the goals "deflated" their visitors - while the manager reserved an extra salute for centre-half Michael Raynes for his efforts in United's clean sheet.

Curle said: "I don’t usually like handing out praise but I thought Michael Raynes was absolutely immense.

"He picked up some headlines a couple of weeks ago [after the Blackpool game when he said], 'blame me', and he's had a massive reaction to that.

"He's a big, honest kid who came out and said he wasn't at his best that day. Here, he put in a performance I think he can be very proud of."

Curle is exploring the possibility of a reserve friendly on Wednesday to run the rule over Derek Asamoah and an ex-Chelsea trialist.

It is understood, meanwhile, that defender David Atkinson is likely to go out on loan this week.

United's youth team lost their own unbeaten record on Saturday as they lost 4-1 to Blackpool, despite Max Brown's early strike.