Carlisle Utd 1 Sunderland 2: No sleepless nights after all, then, for Carlisle United, as Sunderland get the joys of a 4.15am alarm call for tomorrow’s third round draw. But the Blues certainly gave Simon Grayson’s men some restless moments in this cup tie with a spiky and often highly-impressive performance.

A lot of the pressure was Carlisle’s; much of the quality too. The visitors, though, had the decisive moment, Lynden Gooch’s second-half finish enough to decide a game that had seemed on a knife-edge for the most part.

Particularly when Danny Grainger forced United level on the hour mark, it was easy to imagine Carlisle taking Sunderland’s scalp. Nor would such an outcome have flattered Keith Curle’s side.

In both halves, in fact, they might easily have scored more. They troubled the woodwork and the Black Cats’ defence, which needed goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter as a defiant last line.

The record says United fell against higher-league opposition over 90 minutes for the first time in this competition under Curle. But praise needs to flow their way even as they exit the Carabao Cup. It was appropriate that a cup sponsored by an energy drink saw Carlisle at their most lively, the only shame being they couldn’t find that second, potent finish.

Before kick-off, Curle had pledged Carlisle wouldn’t get “starry-eyed” against a team who had just come down from the Premier League. That danger might have been reduced further when Grayson made 10 changes.

Didier Ndong was the only player who had started against Leeds in the league to keep his place for this cup tie along the A69. Whether he had lost a draw of lots, or been the worst trainer since the weekend, wasn’t clear.

Either way, it was a considerable “freshening up”, to use the Sunderland manager’s term, while Curle went for a more modest two alterations, bringing in Gary Liddle and Jamie Devitt for the Millers, Tom and Shaun.

That meant a big challenge for Richie Bennett as a lone striker against a Championship defence, as Carlisle went after revenge for a pair of FA Cup replay defeats in the 1990s, Sunderland’s last visits here.

Those were cold January nights; this was a muggy summer evening at Brunton Park, one that started with a rousing minute’s applause for Bill Green, a Blues legend and Newcastle man who would have loved the idea of United going up against the team in red and white at his old haunt.

He would certainly have been pleased with the period of consistent pressure Carlisle applied once they had adjusted to Sunderland’s early pace. A first-minute attack from the away side saw Wahbi Khazri fire over the bar, while Ndong then strolled through a static midfield to have an attempt deflected wide.

This certainly set an instant examination but Carlisle, once they started finding Bennett in Sunderland territory, found a strong response. Unashamed of aiming the ball high for their striker and falling on second balls, they forced a string of genuine chances against Grayson’s side.

The first saw Bennett feed the overlapping Devitt, whose cross was just too firm for Reggie Lambe. A poor Donald Love pass then allowed Bennett to sent Devitt away again, and when his low cross arrived for Nicky Adams in generous space, it needed a Ruiter save to protect the visitors’ pride.

Carlisle’s attacking midfielders were locating good areas in front and around the Sunderland defence as they pressed hungrily. Devitt almost found Bennett again, then the midfielder met a Papy Djilobodji clearance with a searing, goalbound shot that Ruiter leapt to tip over.

The lead would certainly not have been flattering to Carlisle by this point, but then Sunderland bounced back to take it. After Khazri had sent a warning shot which Jack Bonham saved, they then opened up space in the left of Carlisle’s box, Gooch eventually peeling onto Bryan Oviedo’s pass to square for Love, who arrived from the right to score.

Sunderland grew more comfortable from here with their passing and movement. Bonham pushed away a Gooch shot and then the keeper denied Joel Asoro when clean through as they sought a quick second. Carlisle, though, did not retreat into shells. Their first response came via a deflected Grainger shot that broke for Devitt, but Ruiter saved at his feet and Bennett was denied a penalty as he went over chasing the rebound.

Their next was much closer, as Mike Jones fed Grainger with a cute pass and his cross, dummied by Devitt, was crashed against the right-hand post by Lambe.

Chances like that really needed to go in against such opposition. But they at least gave the Blues hope that the tie was still within reach, if they could be as inventive again.

In truth the second half began a little less fluently both ways, but by the hour mark Carlisle had applied enough pressure to force that crucial goal. Here they got top marks for persistence, as they grew steadily back into the contest as the dominant side.

The sign that United were about to bite back perhaps came when a cluster of players ganged up on Khazri and then drew a frustrated, yellow-card foul from the Sunderland man on Jones, who was standing out in midfield.

Bennett was also back in nuisance mode among Grayson’s centre-halves and this led directly to the leveller, as Djilobodji went heavily into Carlisle’s target man in the box, and ref Darren Bond took a moment before pointing to the spot.

It was not as simple as scoring from there, for Ruiter produced another save to keep out Grainger’s spot-kick. The captain, though, reached the rebound first, and drove it home.

Now we had a cup tie. Carlisle, emboldened, nearly struck again, but Adams’ cross bounced off Bennett. Ndong then fouled his way into the book with a challenge that upset Jones. At this point Grayson made two changes, bringing on the more senior figures of Lamine Kone and James Vaughan, and then Aiden McGeady, to try and restore some Wearside order.

It did not take instant effect, for Carlisle remained hungry. Bennett was denied by John O’Shea with a shot on the turn, and when McGeady responded by picking out Adam Matthews in space, Bonham got down safely.

It was not particularly obvious where Sunderland would find another goal – but nor do certain players need repeat invitations. Gooch did not, and he made the absolute most of the space he found on the edge of the box to drive a ruthless shot past Bonham.

It was harsh on Carlisle, but perhaps also a reminder of the quality that had come off Sunderland’s team coach even though the Blues had subdued it for long spells.

It was now late in the day to expect subs to turn it around, but Curle sent on Hallam Hope and Shaun Miller with six minutes remaining, and fit-again Jason Kennedy for a final hurrah. Vaughan, though, lurked on the defenders’ shoulders, going close with an overhead kick.

Two goals would have been a generous margin; one was kind enough. Tough on United, in the end – but Curle can sleep easily if this is the standard they can achieve.