Oldham Athletic 1 Carlisle United 3: Carlisle United returned to form with a fine 3-1 victory at Oldham.

In contrast to their recent struggles at home, John Sheridan's side made it three straight wins on the road thanks to goals from Hallam Hope, Ashley Nadesan and Jack Sowerby.

Ishmael Miller pulled one back for the home side but Carlisle saw through the victory that sent them up to 10th in League Two.

It also ensured a successful return to Boundary Park for ex-Latics trio Sheridan, Mike Jones and Anthony Gerrard, the latter named captain against the former club that sacked him in the summer.

Hope headed them into a 20th minute lead with his first goal since August.

The forward was there at close range to nod home after Macaulay Gillesphey had headed a half-cleared Jerry Yates' cross back across goal.

That capped a good start by the Blues at Boundary Park.

They had had a fourth-minute opening when Nadesan intercepted a George Edmundson backpass, but Hope couldn't find a way through and Gillesphey's cross then evaded his team-mates.

Sowerby went close with a free-kick while Hope was thwarted by an Edmundson tackle before the Barbados international finally struck.

There was also a bizarre moment early on when United fielded two players wearing the number six shirt from the start, the officials forcing Gary Liddle to change into his number four shirt after five minutes, Tom Parkes remaining in his regular number six.

Oldham came more into things as the half went on but struggled to seriously test Collin.

Miller forced a save from United's keeper from a narrow angle after he broke past Parkes.

Sowerby then went close again for Carlisle from 25 yards, before another Miller break forced Liddle into a close-range clearance.

Parkes volleyed a corner wide from the Blues and Miller shot over from outside the box as United reached half-time with their lead intact.

Things then got even better with two goals in the space of three minutes.

Nadesan made it 2-0 when he fired Hope's cross high into the net on 55 minutes.

And shortly afterwards United opened the Latics up down the right again, and Sowerby spun away from attention as he received Hope's pass before slotting home.

Oldham did respond when Miller made it 3-1, racing onto sub Callum Lang's through ball and firing past Collin.

Oldham, though, couldn't find a further way back, Sam Surridge shooting over and Collin making a fine late save from Lang's close-range header.

For Jones it was a first start for nearly two months after his return from a hamstring injury.

Yates also returned after suspension, but Richie Bennett and Jamie Devitt missed out with injuries.

Goalkeeper Louis Gray, who rejoined the Blues on Friday, was among the subs.

Sheridan later said he expects to arrange a longer stay for the ex-Everton man.

The manager also said Luke O'Reilly is currently off with stress.

United: Collin, Liddle, Gillesphey, Gerrard, Parkes, Etuhu, Jones (Campbell 80), Sowerby (Slater 90), Yates, Hope, Nadesan (Glendon 80). Subs: Gray, G Miller, Slater, Adewusi, McCarron.

Oldham Athletic: Iversen, Taylor, Edmundson, Clarke, Hunt, Graham (Branger-Engone 60), Gardner, Baxter, Missilou (Lang 60), I Miller (O'Grady 72), Surridge. Subs: Dummigan, De La Paz, Nepomuceno, Maouche.