Carlisle Utd 0 Crewe Alex 2: Shaun Miller was sent off as Carlisle United's poor run of form continued with a home defeat to Crewe.

The frontman was shown a straight red card against his former club for a challenge on Oliver Turton early in the second half.

That capped another dire afternoon for the Cumbrians, who have now gone seven games without a goal.

Callum Cooke and Jordan Bowery scored in either half - and Keith Curle's side are also now outside the play-off places after Exeter's three-goal comeback against Yeovil.

Cooke gave Crewe the lead after linking with George Cooper, before breaking past a static defence to rifle home his team-mate's dinked pass.

The 34th minute strike was the only goal of a first half the Blues started brightly also having a goal of their own disallowed.

Jamie Proctor headed home in the 14th minute from a Nicky Adams free-kick, but the offside flag was up.

United had other near misses when Crewe keeper Ben Garratt kept out a misdirected header from team-mate Bowery.

Luke Joyce and Danny Grainger had shots blocked, with Shaun Miller denied by Garratt after Cooke's opener.

Earlier, Bowery had headed wide and Cooper had fired over for the Railwaymen.

The second half then began dreadfully for United when Miller's challenge on Turton at a 50-50 saw him dismissed by ref Nigel Miller.

Junior Joachim then replaced Adams, who limped off with a hamstring injury, before Bowery arrived at the far post to make it 2-0 on the hour mark.

Keith Curle, who had handed a start to fit-again Jamie Devitt, brought on George Waring and John O'Sullivan as Carlisle desperately tried to find a way back.

But other than a Proctor shot which Garratt saved, they were short of chances, Mark Gillespie denying Cooke another for Crewe towards the end.

There was no place in the squad for either of United's newest signings Samir Nabi or Ben Tomlinson, the former's registration with the club having not yet gone through.

Carlisle's goalless run has now stretched to a club record 686 minutes.

Carlisle: Gillespie, T Miller, Grainger, Raynes (Waring 61), Liddle, Joyce, Lambe, Adams (Joachim 57), Devitt (O'Sullivan 69), Proctor, S Miller. Not used: Crocombe, Ward, Brisley, Hooper.

Crewe: Garratt, Turton, Ray, Bakayogo, Cooke, Jones, Nugent, Bingham, Cooper, Dagnall (Ainley 90), Bowery (Wintle 83). Not used: Dawber, Udoh, Ng, Dale, Finney.