CARLISLE United manager Paul Simpson has praised his side for being 'professional' as they claimed a 1-0 victory against Cheltenham Town. 

The result against Darrell Clarke's relegation-threatened Robins came three days after the Blues had had their fate sealed and a return to League Two ratified.

However, the Blues dug in and withstood a barrage from their hosts at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium and claimed the points thanks to Sam Lavelle's poaching instincts at the back post on the stroke of halftime. 

After the game, Simpson, who had urged his side before kickoff to approach the clash 'properly', praised his side's professionalism and their results defending. 

He said: "I am probably relieved, I am delighted for the players and I am delighted for the 390-odd who made the journey.

"That was professional, that was going about it in the right way. 

"I still think that in terms of the football, we could have done things a little bit better but tonight was always going to be a real defensive, backs to the wall, defend for your lives match on a really tight pitch against a team who launch balls on to you. 

"They put set plays in, free kicks, corners, they have got long throws either side. They surprised us with the change of shape but they reverted back to what we were expecting at half-time. 

"We were ready for it. We were ready to put our tin hats on and defend our lives."

Simpson also detailed how the result reaffirmed his belief that there are a number of Carlisle United players who are wholly committed to the club and the next [hase of its development. 

"I didn't have any doubts before the game to be honest with you," He said.

"I know that there is players in there that want to be part of Carlisle United going forward so that is not in question and even if we had gone in at 0-0 at halftime I was really pleased with the way we went about it.

"There are a lot of positives out of tonight as much as it was a really scrappy, tough football game and sometimes that is what you have to do to win."