Crestfallen Joe McKee says he has been lifted by the response of his Carlisle United team-mates after his penalty agony at Derby.

The midfielder, who is eyeing a place in the side against Barnet tomorrow, says every member of the squad rallied around him after his spot-kick was saved at the end of Tuesday's 14-13 shoot-out marathon.

McKee, who had come off the bench for his debut in the EFL Cup tie, was devastated to be the player who failed from the spot seconds before Derby finally clinched victory through Timi Max Elsnik

But the Scot says the support and togetherness at United made the iPro Stadium a less lonely place than it might have been after the epic game.

Summer signing McKee said: "Somebody eventually had to miss - I didn't want it to be one of our players, and especially didn't want it to be myself.

"He [Derby keeper Scott Carson] is an experienced goalkeeper and at some stage he was always going to save one.

"I was just gutted the way it finished. It was unusual that it went on so long that some of us had to take another penalty.

"What it came round to me the second time I didn't want to change my mind - I just wanted to take the same penalty as I had before. I hit it well, the goalkeeper took a chance, and pulled off a good save.

"The gutting thing is that everybody put everything into it, including the fans - they were outstanding for the whole 120 minutes and through the penalty shoot-out.

"I was devastated afterwards, but everyone in that changing room to a man came and spoke to me, and did the same with the other boys who missed penalties.

"Everyone looks after each other and it's a good dressing room."

McKee, who was making his first Blues outing as a second-half substitute, believes the team and supporters can take plenty of encouragement from their efforts as they now return to league battle in north London.

McKee, 23, said: "For the most part I enjoyed the game. There's not many teams who'll go to Derby and take them that distance.

"There's no reason why we can't play against teams like that week-in, week-out, because Carlisle's a big club and that's what we should be aiming for.

"It shows there are big things coming for us and it's just a case of sticking together. We're undefeated in the league so we'll pick ourselves up, look to go again on Saturday and get three points."

McKee's involvement as a 55th-minute replacement for Nicky Adams was his first outing at the sixth time of asking following his summer move.

He was unable to feature in the opening game at Portsmouth because of a ban he had received during his time with Morton.

Since then Mike Jones and Luke Joyce have been regulars in midfield, with two-goal Jason Kennedy also heavily involved in United's start to the campaign.

McKee added: "Personally, I was delighted to make my debut. Being suspended for the first game was frustrating but everybody has been outstanding since then.

"I've just had to bide my time. The gaffer's given me an opportunity and hopefully, if I keep working hard, there's more to come."

Referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) are investigating the handling of Tuesday's epic shoot-out by referee Darren England and his colleagues.

After Derby apparently informed the officials that midfielder Bradley Johnson was injured and unable to take a penalty, Carlisle should have been asked to withdraw one of their own players from the shoot-out to even up the numbers.

But while the Blues' nominated player Mark Gillespie did not take a penalty, he was allowed to continue participating in the shoot-out by the officials.

Kennedy, who sat out Tuesday's game with a knee injury, could return tomorrow while Curle will also consider a recall for winger Reggie Lambe, an unused sub at Derby.