Keith Curle praised the character and quality of his Carlisle United team after their valiant 2-1 cup defeat to Sunderland.

The Blues pushed their Championship visitors all the way in the Carabao Cup second round tie at Brunton Park.

Carlisle forced a host of chances and eventually equalised Donald Love's opener when Danny Grainger followed in to score the rebound from his saved penalty.

Lynden Gooch then struck the 79th-minute winner for Simon Grayson's men in front of a 8,187 crowd.

Curle said: "When I walked into the dressing room at full time I told that the players that if they’re going to lose a cup tie then that’s the way to lose it.

"When you’re up against a team of the stature and calibre of Sunderland you have to be brave and we gave a very good account of ourselves.

"The players took on board the instructions we gave them and created some good opportunities.

"The higher up you go, that ruthlessness is what you see - one chance, one goal, and that won them the game.

"But I thought we made them wobble."

Reggie Lambe hit the post in the first half while visiting keeper Robbin Ruiter made crucial saves to deny Nicky Adams and Jamie Devitt.

Frontman Richie Bennett, meanwhile, caused regular problems for Sunderland centre-halves Papy Djilobodji and john O'Shea.

Curle added: "It's pleasing to see over 8,000 fans here on a Tuesday night and the vocal support they gave the players was excellent.

"They saw their team go up against a good club who've had a good standing in the Premier League, with good qualities, a very good manager, and all the players they're able to pick from.

"We needed to turn it into a League Two game at times but at other times we needed to match the Championship team in how we played.

"There wasn't a lot in the two teams."

Curle, meanwhile, said only in "hindsight" could it have been argued that he could have made earlier substitutions.

Visiting boss Simon Grayson brought on Lamine Kone, James Vaughan and Aiden McGeady midway through the second half.

Curle, in contrast, waited until the 84th minute before making changes.

United remained in the game until the final seconds, when keeper Jack Bonham went up for a free-kick in the dying moments.

"We had another opportunity just after the equaliser," Curle added.

"It can be labelled as a criticism to ask could I have changed things earlier, but if my job was done on hindsight I'd be managing in the Premier League with Manchester City and being tapped up to manage England.

"I can't manage like that. I make decisions on what I'm seeing and the qualities we've got.

"To bring on three strikers that we had on the bench would have meant taking off the supply line of Reggie Lambe, who is in good goalscoring form, and Nicky Adams who can put jam on his crosses.

"I thought we nullified a very good team to one shot in the second half and had a few skirmishes ourselves.

"We even have Jack Bonham now as a threat going forward for set-pieces!"