Keith Curle insisted Carlisle United's draw against Barnet - earned by Shaun Miller's wonder strike - was a "step in the right direction".

The Blues left it late to avoid a third straight defeat but had Miller to thank for his overhead stunner.

It stopped the rot after back-to-back defeats and eased a little of the immediate pressure on United and Curle at the wrong end of League Two.

The manager said his players had battled through a nervous afternoon and hopes their late fightback can now be a springboard.

He said: "It's a nervy, tentative place to be at the minute, but part of my job is keeping that belief.

"A point is a step in the right direction.

"On the balance of play, you'd say we shaded it and should have got the win. But it's something to build on."

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro had punished Carlisle with an eighth-minute goal as Curle started with a "diamond" midfield formation.

United struggled to create chances for long spells.

But, after reverting to 4-4-2, and bringing Nicky Adams, Richie Bennett and Jason Kennedy off the bench, the Blues raised their tempo and could even have won it at the death.

The 1-1 draw came in front of a 4,141 crowd - the lowest Saturday league attendance at Brunton Park since October 2015.

Curle went on to praise his players for earning the result despite a period of criticism following recent results.

"I think they deserved it because they've been working hard and we haven't been affected by outside distractions," he said.

"We got knocked by the goal, and that feeds the frenzy because things aren't going our way. But at half-time we said we've got to believe, got to stick in, because it will change and turn.

"If you listen to the local media, you can tell the pin's been taken out of the hand grenade, it's been rolled in the room, and it's just waiting now to explode.

"I'll pick it up, put it in my pocket and I'll deal with it. We can only deal with it on the pitch.

"The players are young men and it's a big test for them but they didn't take a backward step.

"Towards the end the atmosphere was very reminiscent of last season and the season before - the supporters wanted that ball in the net."

Curle, meanwhile, said striker Hallam Hope would have to "deal with" some fans cheering when he was substituted in the second half.

Curle said: "He's a human being - he doesn't like to get the stick, and nobody does.

"But we're in a situation now where we're all open for criticism. Take it, deal with it, move on. The only way you turn jeers into cheers is by doing your job.

"He'll have it again in his career. So will I and every other player. The supporters come in, pay their money, and they're entitled to their opinion."