Coach Paul Murray reckons Carlisle United's 3-2 win against Newport should provide a "massive lift" after their recent home struggles.

Danny Grainger's late stunner gave the Blues the points after the visitors had fought back from Jamie Devitt's first-half double.

The absorbing game resulted in United's first goals and points in six Brunton Park games.

Murray said the players earned the much-needed outcome after a tough spell.

“We changed things slightly during the week, we trained up at Creighton, we did a few different things in the warm-up - just to do things a bit different,” the Cumbrian first-team coach said.

“Whether that got us the three points [I don’t know] but the lads on the pitch have to do it and they gave their all right to the death.”

He added: “We got rid of that hoodoo in the first half after not scoring at home for five games, and then to win right at the death was fantastic.

"It’s inevitable that run is going to come to an end at some point but to end it like that is fantastic and massive lift for the lads.

“Newport had a penalty shout, but you get your luck, don’t you?

“We’re not getting too going mad about [the result] because there were some bits in the game that weren’t good enough.

“But Danny Grainger, right at the death…you’ve got to concentrate on them. I’ve seen them get hit and end up over in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Stand. He had to concentrate, get it on target, he did that and it was a fantastic goal.

“When it goes in, it’s great to see the celebrations. That’s what I miss as a footballer. This is the next best thing, to get it as a coach. When you’re on the pitch and score like that, and celebrate with your team-mates, there’s no better feeling.

“Before that, Newport put good balls in the box and kept us penned in for a while. They’re one of the best teams I’ve seen up here. But it will still say Carlisle 3 Newport 2 in the paper.”

Devitt's strikes in the eighth and 11th minutes formed his first-ever double for United.

His opener came seven hours and 59 minutes after Carlisle's previous Brunton Park league goal.

United climbed from 16th to 11th in the table.

While Grainger and Devitt enjoyed successful returns from injury, another senior player is facing a spell on the sidelines.

Midfielder Kelvin Etuhu is set to be ruled out for two to three weeks, Murray said.

The coach said Etuhu had suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of Saturday’s win.

“Our aim was to get Kelvin to play more games than he ever has before, in his last 10 years or so,” Murray said.

“He got to that point, [but] felt his hamstring, but hopefully he’ll only be another couple of weeks and he can come back and bolster the squad.”

Murray, meanwhile, said Carlisle are set to meet another candidate for their goalkeeping coach vacancy on Monday.