Carlisle United 3 Mansfield Town 2: Carlisle United survived a second-half fightback from 10-man Mansfield to pick up a record-breaking sixth straight win as they claimed a 3-2 success.

The Blues, under caretaker managers Tommy Wright and Paul Murray, led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Jack Sowerby and Hallam Hope.

In the second period, Matt Preston gave the Stags, reduced to 10 men after Neal Bishop's half-time red card, hope, only for Hope to score his second to almost instantly restore the Cumbrians' two-goal lead.

Tyler Walker again cut the deficit to one goal but the Blues held on - and are now on their best run since 2008 when John Ward was manager, having taken maximum points from their last six fixtures.

Carlisle took the lead on four minutes.

On-loan Fleetwood man Sowerby rifled past away goalkeeper Conrad Logan after good build-up play between Jamie Devitt, Hope and Ashley Nadesan.

On 12 minutes, Nadesan earned the Cumbrians a free-kick. Captain Danny Grainger took it and Tom Parkes flicked inches wide of Logan's right-hand post.

Seven minutes later, the visitors had their first chance of any note when a Stags corner was half-cleared and eventually hooked comfortably over the bar by captain Krystian Pearce.

United then doubled their lead in superb fashion with 26 minutes on the clock when Devitt threaded through the Mansfield defence for Nadesan and, despite being off-balance, he crossed for Hope, who slotted into the gaping goal.

Mansfield came close to pulling one back on the half-hour mark, only for Parkes to clear Jacob Mellis' left-wing cross.

Things went from bad to worse for the away team in the second period, with Bishop sent off for a second bookable offence after an altercation with Grainger in the tunnel.

But it was the Stags who had the first chance after the restart when top-scorer Walker cut in off the right and curled over with 49 minutes played.

It was United, though, who were on top with Nadesan and Devitt going close before the hour mark.

On 67 minutes, Macaulay Gillesphey was allowed space to drift through midfield and flashed his shot wide of Logan's right-hand post.

But then Mal Benning’s free-kick found an unmarked Preston who headed past Cumbrians keeper Adam Collin on 78 minutes to give the Stags some hope.

But, moments later, Hope found the bottom corner to restore United's two-goal cushion.

Mansfield were still not done, though, and after Hayden White had beaten Collin to a loose ball, Walker headed home with three minutes of normal time left.

In stoppage-time, substitute Liam McCarron was denied by a save by Logan before Sowerby’s effort was deflected wide for a corner as United held on.

Caretakers Wright and Murray named an unchanged Carlisle starting line-up.

Nadesan played his final match of his loan deal before he is expected to return to Fleetwood on Monday.

Centre-half Anthony Gerrard's current contract also expires after this game, and he started, too.

United came into the match on the back of a New Year's Day 2-0 victory at Morecambe but having been shocked by the resignation of Chesterfield-bound John Sheridan yesterday, with the Spireites today coming from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at home to Ebbsfleet with Sheridan understood to have been in the stands.

United started the day seventh in League Two on 42 points off 26 league fixtures.

The Stags, managed by David Flitcroft and on a 17-game unbeaten run before kick-off, were in third on 45 points off 24 games.

Carlisle United: Collin, Grainger (c), Liddle, Gerrard, Parkes, Hope (McCarron 85), Devitt, Gillesphey, Sowerby, Etuhu, Nadesan.

Carlisle unused subs: Gray, Miller, Kennedy, Jones, Bennett, Slater.

Goals: Sowerby (4), Hope (26 and 80).

Mansfield: Logan, White, Benning, Preston, Pearce (c), Bishop, Mellis, Sweeney (Atkinson 45), Walker, Elsnik (Rose 33), Hamilton.

Mansfield unused subs: Kean, Khan, Butcher, Law, Graham.

Goals: Preston (78), Walker (87).

Ref: Robert Lewis.

Crowd: 4,563 (335 away fans).