Carlisle United 0 Morecambe 2: Carlisle's Brunton Park woes continued as they failed to score for a fourth straight home game.

Morecambe became the latest visiting side to subject John Sheridan's side to defeat on their own ground.

Ajay Leitch-Smith and Vadaine Oliver got the goals inside the opening 25 minutes with the Blues unable to find a way back.

Ashley Nadesan hit the post in the first half, while teenager Liam McCarron gave United some late impetus when coming off the bench.

It is now, though, 374 minutes since Carlisle - who dropped a place to 11th in League Two - last found the net at Brunton Park.

The day saw supporters pay tribute to the late Tony Hopper with a minute's applause before kick-off.

With members of Hopper's family in the crowd, there was also an outbreak of applause and singing in tribute to the Cumbrian midfielder on 42 minutes, marking his age when he died on Tuesday night after a battle with motor neurone disease.

On the pitch, Carlisle again paid the price for failing to take early chances and also conceding sloppy goals.

The visitors struck on 13 minutes when Leitch-Smith did well to feed Aaron Wildig on the right, and though Leitch-Smith's original shot was saved, the rebound struck the striker as he followed in and it found the net.

Carlisle could have equalised minutes after the Shimps' opener but fit-again Richie Bennett's shot was blocked by Sam Lavelle.

The post then denied Ashley Nadesan an equaliser moments before Oliver made it two, the big striker rising to head home a 25th-minute corner.

United looked uncomfortable on further occasions as the visitors' counter-attacking movement tested them.

Wildig shot at Collin after good work from Liam Mandeville, while Rhys Oates forced a parry from United's keeper with a shot from the left.

Nadesan headed wide and Macaulay Gillesphey had a shot deflected over as Carlisle failed to find a way back before the break.

Jack Sowerby had a shot saved and Bennett volleyed the rebound over as United tried to start the second half on the front foot.

Barry Roche then saved a Nadesan attempt at the near post.

Carlisle, though, struggled to create any other real openings, with Oliver shooting over at he other end.

Sheridan made a triple change on the 68-minute mark and one of those introduced, 17-year-old McCarron, injected some much-needed pace and urgency down the right.

He frequently put the visitors on the back foot but Morecambe held firm, Yates also swerving a shot well wide after good work on the left.

The defeat leaves United again reliant on their away form to get themselves back on track, as they go to winless Macclesfield next weekend.

Carlisle's side included right-back Gary Miller, making his full home league debut in the absence of suspended defender Anthony Gerrard.

He was issued a one-match ban and fined £400 by the FA following an incident in United's recent win at Bury.

Sheridan was also without Hallam Hope who was on Barbados international duty as they lost 3-0 in El Salvador, while Jamie Devitt and Danny Grainger remained out.

Adam Campbell, meanwhile, was not allowed to face his parent club.

United: Collin, Miller, Gillesphey (Glendon 68), Liddle, Parkes, Jones (Slater 68) Etuhu, Sowerby, Yates, Nadesan, Bennett (McCarron 68) Not used: Gray, Brown, Adewusi, Egan.

Morecambe: Roche, Mills, Conlan, Lavelle, Yarney, Tutte (Cranston 57), Wildig, Oates (Mendes 74), Mandeville, Leitch-Smith (Oswell 81), Oliver. Not used: Halstead, Hedley, Jagne, Piggott.