Keith Curle insists his unbeaten Carlisle United team are STILL not the finished article - despite smashing an all-time club record.

The manager is continuing to demand improvements despite the Blues going 14 games unbeaten from the start of the season.

Their 2-1 win at Stevenage surpassed the previous 13-game mark set by Paul Simpson's team in 2004.

Curle described the feat as "phenomenal" - but is adamant his players won't dwell on their place in history.

He said: "We're not the finished article and there are still things we need to improve.

"There are still elements, individually and collectively in the club that we need to work on.

"But the way the players are applying themselves to their profession is very pleasing."

Danny Grainger's winner from the penalty spot gave Carlisle a fourth straight league victory for the first time since spring 2008.

It strengthened the Cumbrians' hold on an automatic promotion place, as they are now five points above the play-off positions in second.

And Curle revealed how he laid the law down to his players at half-time in order to stop them losing their focus.

United's early lead through Jason Kennedy was pegged back by a 44th minute Matt Godden penalty, while the Blues received a host of yellow cards from ref Nick Kinseley as they vented their anger.

Curle said: "At half-time there was a lot of talk amongst the players about the refereeing decisions - the referee this, the linesman that.

"So very quickly we had to change the focus, and say that anybody who gets booked in the second half for dissent, it's 500 quid.

"Sometimes people want to hide behind feeling sorry for themselves and bad luck - we're not into that.

"If you get booked for dissent [after that] it means you haven't listened to instructions; you’ve lost your discipline and been affected by somebody that’s not in a red and white shirt.

"It shows the level of professionalism that the players were able to adapt to it."

United's irresistible form is also putting them in sight of further records.

Including the final game of last season, their unbeaten run is now 15 in the league - just four short of the all-time best of 19, set in 1994/5.

They have also gone 10 away games without defeat, equalling the club's second-best run and two short of the record set by Bill Shankly's 1950/1 team.

Curle added: "The credit has got to go to everybody involved with the football club, not only the players but the football staff and staff at the club that work tirelessly.

"I know I'm not an easy person to keep happy. I do like a moan and a grumble, I can rub people up the wrong way - but it's for the right reasons.

"I need to be successful. I want people around me who've got that same urge, same will and desire to make this club better in everything we do."

Stevenage boss Darren Sarll claimed Jabo Ibehre was offside as Kennedy scored Carlisle's opener, whilst claiming the referee "lost his bottle" in awarding United's penalty after Curle "went after him" in the tunnel at half-time.