Manager Keith Curle has called on Carlisle United quickly to return to their recent fine league form after being dumped out of two cups in the space of four days.

The Blues resume their League Two promotion push at Luton this weekend having departed the FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy in quick succession.

Tuesday night's 3-2 Trophy defeat to Mansfield left the Blues with only league commitments to focus on.

Curle said he would not lambast his players after they were ousted by Steve Evans' side, but said 100 per cent commitment to the promotion push was now all-important

"It wasn't the day to give them the Accrington "genitalia" speech," said Curle, recalling his infamous interview during United's 2014/15 survival battle.

"It wasn't a case of lack of effort. You could probably say some of the players hadn't had the game time so were a bit rusty.

"But they've had the game time now, they've sharpened their credentials of what they need. Ideally, then, it's about getting back on the horse and rolling out results, grinding out results, playing the stylish football we want to once we've earned the right.

"We've only got the league and that's not a bad thing to fall back on - all the concentration and focus is all on us getting results."

Curle said United failed to take some great early chances against Steve Evans' side, followed by "weak" defending to allow the Stags go 2-0 up.

Shaun Miller and Charlie Wyke struck to level things before Danny Rose's late winner.

Curle said: "In the first half we needed to work the ball quicker and into wide areas. We didn't get enough balls in the box and get enough personnel forward - we were too concerned with getting on the ball without forward threat.

"That said, after 15 minutes they [Mansfield] didn't have a clue what to do. You could see them on the sides scratching their heads. Ultimately we had two golden opportunities to score goals, then the game could have been out of sight. Goals change games.

"It was weak defending for their first goal. If you don't defend your box or pick up your man and get outmuscled, it's going to cause you problems."

Despite their lofty position in the league, United have conceded two goals or more in each of their last eight games.

Curle added:"We don't like conceding goals. Conceding five in two cup games at home we don't like. My job, and that of the staff and players is to look at them with honest reflection and see what we could have done better.

"That will get done, the same as all through the season. We're all striving to improve."

United's boss changed formation at half-time with Carlisle fighting back into the game after switching to 4-4-2.

But Curle did not rule out using the original system, which included three at the back and Danny Grainger and Alex McQueen on left and right midfield, again.

Asked if he felt the system had further potential, Curle said: "Within the first 15-20 minutes you'd say definitely yes. The next 20 minutes, you'd say no. But it's something to work on.

"Can it get results? Yes. The important thing is, within the systems, the players have still to make decisions. Was the first goal anything to do with formation? No. It's a hopeful ball into the box that we didn't deal with. Normally we're very good at that."

Curle handed both McQueen and Kevin Wright their first United outings since joining last week. On former Chelsea man Wright the manager said: "He's got dynamics, and he set up our second goal by causing a bit of mayhem through being in the right place and popping up.

"It's a massive step for the lad, you could tell he was nervous and that can drain players, but there's more to come from Kevin and Alex.

"They've got just over a month to impress. They've got good dynamics, good pace and are good bodies to have."

Curle's players are undergoing a light training session today before stepping things up on Thursday ahead of the trip to fifth-placed Luton, who won at Swindon in the Trophy last night.

He added: "The cup games are a distraction, a financial distraction that can help you. That's been taken out of the equation now. Anything we get now we're going to have to earn in the league."

Captain Grainger had stitches in a facial cut that saw him play for much of last night wearing a head bandage. Midfielder Joe McKee will be assessed after he limped off before half-time.