A proud Keith Curle saluted his brave Carlisle United side after their marathon penalties defeat against Championship side Derby.

The Rams eventually claimed a 14-13 win in the EFL Cup second round shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

The dramatic finale saw Blues debutant Joe McKee denied by Derby’s Cumbrian keeper Scott Carson before the hosts’ Timi Max Elsnik struck the winning kick.

That came at the end of 32 spot-kicks - the longest shoot-out in League Cup history.

Derby had taken the lead when Darren Bent scored but the Blues forced extra-time, with Mike Jones levelling in the final moments of normal time with a stunning 30-yarder.

Curle said: “I am very proud. But, at the same time, I’m a professional and I like winning games. There is an element of disappointment.”

United’s epic tie was watched by 611 travelling fans in the 9,860 crowd.

Curle said great encouragement could be taken from Carlisle’s valiant display against Nigel Pearson’s side.

He said: “We have got good belief in how we play and how we want to play. We have intelligent players that have got belief in the instructions that we have been giving them.

“We have not had the time we might have needed to adapt to the new playing style we used. But, against a very good Derby County team, we caused them real problems.

“We have got firepower and a willingness and energy. We also have ability to cause teams problems.”

He added: “I thought we nullified Derby, kept them down to the minimum and kept them at distance. But then, once we had done that, we looked to play.”

Jones’ dramatic leveller was his first competitive goal for the Cumbrians. On the late goal, Curle said: “That shows the work that we do, not only physically, but mentally.

“That shows that, as a football team and as a changing room, we have belief that proves that the harder you work, the better you become.

“We can’t just turn up and play how we want to play, you have to earn the right. But, the one thing I said to players, is we can deal with disappointment.”

Nicky Adams was one of Carlisle’s most influential players during the first-half but he was taken off early after the restart.

On the decision to bring the former Northampton Town winger off, the manager said: “It was a tactical change.

“There are two sides to a game. I know Nicky Adams can open doors. But I had the feeling, within the game, that I needed to make sure the door was shut.”

Curle was also disappointed to see Derby midfielder Bradley Johnson, who completed the match, not take a penalty during the shootout, which caused some confusion.