Keith Curle was pleased with Carlisle United’s performance in their 1-1 draw against Stevenage - as the Blues dropped out of the League Two play-off places.

United looked the more likely to open the scoring and, after in-form Jabo Ibehre had cancelled out the away team’s goal which came after a controversial penalty, the Blues again looked the more likely winners.

But Curle’s side ultimately had to settle for a point as they dropped to eighth in the table with Blackpool overtaking them on goal difference after they had beaten leaders Doncaster.

“I have got to say, for this time of the season, for what is at stake and where we are at – I thought the performance was very good,” the Blues boss said.

“It was back to something like what we are trying to produce, and we did produce in the early part of the season.

“We were free-flowing, entertaining and we looked an attacking threat. The slight disappointment is you have to say, when we did get to the final third, our quality needs to be a little bit better.

“But, overall, I think we looked a threat. We looked a threat from set-pieces.

“Defensively, we looked solid and – barring a 10-minute period where we got a little bit stretched when we were looking for the winner which is what we are about – I did not think we look troubled.”

The home supporters were unhappy with referee Ben Toner’s decision to award the visitors a spot-kick, which was converted by Steve Schumacher.

On the debatable decision, Curle said: “They had one header in the first half but they were gifted something to defend by a decision that I think was very, very soft.

“I have had an opportunity to see it and I do not think it was a penalty. I think it was a cheap decision and I think it was a poor decision.

“I have to be careful what I say now that I do not say anything that is personal and direct apart from, in my opinion, the referee has given a decision that was wrong.”

The Blues have come out of their Easter double-header with two points when they could easily have secured all six points if they had been more ruthless.

But a positive from recent fixtures has been the return of some key players like Macaulay Gillesphey and Nicky Adams, while Shaun Miller has now completed his four-match ban.

Curle added: “I thought our front two gave them a lot of problems.

“I thought our shape gave them a lot of problems and they kept us solid.

“John O’Sullivan came off on Friday with an injury but has been able to get himself off Dolly’s [physio Neil Dalton] bed to put in a performance that shows he is going to be available for selection.

“Nicky Adams, ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation, is back in the fold. So, we have some very important players coming back in the fold.”