Carlisle United 2 Cambridge United 2: Jabo Ibehre scored on his return to Brunton Park to put a dent in Carlisle United's play-off hopes.

The veteran striker earned a draw for struggling Cambridge with a 68th-minute strike.

Ibehre's celebrations were subdued after he brought the scores to 2-2, United unable to find a winner and the draw leaving them three points outside the top seven.

The Blues had come from behind to lead, Jamie Devitt and Nathan Thomas scoring before half-time to overturn Rushian Hepburn-Murphy's early Cambridge goal.

Hallam Hope hit the woodwork later for the Blues, while Adam Collin made a string of vital saves at the other end, the result meaning the eighth-placed Cumbrians have now won just once in nine games.

The Blues made the worst possible start when Hepburn-Murphy put the visitors ahead after just three minutes.

He was played in by Jevani Brown's through ball and the Aston Villa loanee's run took him behind Tom Parkes before slotting across Collin to score.

United did not look sure of themselves in possession even though they created a a few half-chances around the Cambridge box.

Devitt curled wide while a Mike Jones shot was fumbled by keeper Dimitar Mitov.

Collin spilled a Brad Halliday cross but United survived, as they did further times when the visitors passed into useful positions too easily, with ex-Blues man Ibehre a strong foil up front for the lively Hepburn-Murphy.

Brown came close to a second for Cambriddge, curling just wide from the edge of the box.

Moments later Carlisle levelled, Callum O'Hare feeding Devitt from the left and the midfielder sending a first-time shot high past Mitov for his 11th of the season.

An inswinging Thomas cross almost bent in while, at the other end, Collin then rescued United by saving at Hepburn-Murphy's feet when the Cambridge number 9 was played in.

Carlisle duly capitalised again when, on 45 minutes, more good work by O'Hare saw Thomas skip into a close-range shooting position and the Sheffield United man drilled it low past Mitov.

Cambridge lost Hepburn-Murphy to injury early in the second half with ex-Blues man David Amoo coming onto their right wing.

Hope missed two chances to increase United's lead before the visitors applied some renewed pressure.

Collin superbly denied Ibehre at the near post but three minutes later the big striker forced his next chance home after a Brown through ball.

Thomas and Brown exchanged chances before Collin made another key save when Brown got free to the left.

Hope then came close for United, curling against the bar after a good run by Regan Slater.

Halliday went close for the visitors while O'Hare shot wide for United, the hosts unable to find the crucial third.

And it so nearly ended disastrously for the Blues as an Anthony Gerrard error allowed Brown clean through in the final seconds, only for Collin to pull off another crucial save.

Steven Pressley named an unchanged side, midfielder Kelvin Etuhu again out of the squad, having missed last weekend's game after the birth of his son.

Injured defender Peter Grant was also out of the squad as midfielder George Glendon joins the Blues substitutes.

United: Collin, Miller, Grainger, Gerrard, Parkes, Jones, Slater, O'Hare, Devitt (Scougall 75), Thomas, Hope (Kennedy 90). Not used: Gray, Liddle, Glendon, Simpson, Branthwaite.

Cambridge: Mitov, Halliday, Carroll, Taft, Taylor, Deegan, Brown, Maris, Coulson, Hepburn-Murphy (Amoo 51), Ibehre. Not used: Forde, Dunk, Darling, Lewis, John, Jones.

Crowd: 4,673 (214 Cambridge fans)