Keith Curle felt his surprise team selection was vindicated by Carlisle United's battling first league win of the season at Cambridge.

The Blues got points on the board at the second attempt in League Two thanks to goals from Reggie Lambe and Tom Parkes.

The 2-1 triumph came despite manager Curle leaving key trio Mike Jones, Jamie Devitt and Shaun Miller on the bench.

Curle said there were sound reasons behind his decisions.

He said: "I make decisions that I think are for the betterment of the team on a game by game basis. I always put out a team I think is going to win the game.

"A lot of people would have looked at the teamsheet and asked, after a fantastic performance and win on Tuesday night [at Fleetwood], why are you dropping Mike Jones, Jamie Devitt and Shaun Miller?

"Because I think it was the right thing to do. Every game and fixture will have different sets of scenarios that I think we can overcome and the challenge to me is how brave am I?

"Am I brave enough to rest those players?"

Curle said Jones was left out because statistical analysis suggested the midfielder needed a breather having recently returned to the side after an injury lay-off.

"The evidence said it was needed. Mike was bitterly disappointed, because he wants to play, but I told him that I can't go 40-odd games without Mike Jones in my team.

"If there is an opportunity for him to get a rest, and sit on the bench, he's got to take it," Curle added.

Curle included Gary Liddle in midfield and said United needed an extra "physical presence" to combat Cambridge's attacking style.

His approach paid off, with Parkes again impressing at the back alongside Mark Ellis.

Up front, meanwhile, Richie Bennett again caught the eye on the big striker's first league start.

Curle added: "We want to get the ball down, pass and play, and manoeuvre teams around, but here I knew the opposition would want confrontation.

"We didn’t go on the back foot. We met it head-on and earned the right to score goals.

"We had to stand up and be men. I thought all four of our defenders balanced off each other well and all four were on the front foot when confrontation was there.

"Cambridge's two centre-forwards are man-mountains, with good physical presence, can handle the ball if they can get turned and have a bit of football savvy as well. But we didn’t take a backward step."

Curle also praised keeper Jack Bonham for a "matchwinning save" as he tipped a header from ex-Blues favourite Jabo Ibehre onto the crossbar late on.

Ibehre gained a warm reception from the travelling supporters as he faced his former club.

It proved a successful weekend all round for United as their youth team enjoyed a remarkable victory on Saturday.

Darren Edmondson's side staged a stunning comeback from 5-1 down with 26 minutes remaining to beat Port Vale 6-5.

Luke Lloyd, Liam McCarron, Cieron Casson, Joshua Galloway, Alex Goldthorpe and Sam Adewusi were on target for the Under-18 side.