Carlisle United No2 Gavin Skelton hailed a “confident and professional” performance as the Blues bounced back well against Newport.

The comfortable 2-0 win came three days after United’s poor showing in a 3-0 home defeat to Colchester.

Goals from Omari Patrick and Joshua Kayode capped a strong display from the Blues against a Newport side who had Ryan Inniss sent off for a challenge on Kayode shortly before half-time.

Skelton, rather than boss Chris Beech, took on the post-match media duties and the assistant head coach said: “I thought funnily enough we started well against Colchester, first 10-15 minutes, but unfortunately didn’t get the goal. This time we did, and capitalised on it.

“You could see everyone get a lift, confidence grew and I thought we put in a really confident and professional performance.

“It was good to bounce back and be comfortable. We played some good stuff at times, a bit more football, and we’re delighted to get back to winning ways.”

Patrick headed his second Carlisle goal in the fifth minute from an Elliot Watt corner, with Kayode converting the second from the penalty spot on 33 minutes after the recalled Jack Bridge had been brought down.

That’s how it remained, the Cumbrians recording their first home win by a two-goal margin this season.

Skelton was pleased with United’s set-piece threat as well as their general display.

“We’ve looked dangerous from set pieces of late,” he said. “Elliot Watt’s delivery is excellent – we’ve had a couple from that [right-hand] side where the outswingers and wide free-kicks have looked dangerous.

“Quite a high percentage of goals in this league come from set plays so it’s something we look to capitalise on.

“It comes from delivery and wanting to attack it. You can do it 10 hours a day, no hours a day, and if the delivery isn’t good and nobody wants to put their head on it, you have no chance.

“Thankfully we’ve scored a couple and that gives us confidence whenever we get a set-piece.”

On Patrick, the assistant boss added: “I thought he was really good. On Saturday he started well and here he caused them real problems.

“He’s got excellent ability on the ball, good pace, and when he has that confidence to be direct at people, he causes them real problems. He got a reward for a good performance.”

Fit-again Kayode, meanwhile, made it three goals in three starts as he took United’s spot-kick.

Bridge had taken previous penalties for United but 19-year-old Rotherham loanee Kayode was keen to step up.

Skelton said: “Bridgey was lying on the ground I think after he’d been fouled, so that’s why he didn’t take it…

“With JJ [Kayode], we spoke about it before the game, he had two goals in two starts. He’s quiet but he’s very confident, he wanted to make it three goals in three starts.

“I thought the penalty was excellent. The keeper knew where he was going but he struck it really clean, and I’m really pleased for him.

“He’s a striker, he wants to score goals. I saw him at Gateshead, and he was confident and did well – it did him the world of good there.

“He’s jumped up two leagues and is showing good signs of progressing. There’s lots more improvement in him but he’s willing to run and work hard, and if you do that people buy into you, your team-mates and crowd buy into you, and he gains confidence from that. All round he gave a good performance.”

United moved up to 18th in League Two and are now 20 points above the relegation place.

Skelton added: “It’s funny – we’ve drawn a lot of games, and you [talk about] us not getting beat, but now we’ve had two good performances either side of a bad one.

“You take the hit if you know it’s coming, and it’s pleasing to turn those draws into wins.

“Six points out of three games is better than three excellent performances and picking up three draws.

“Football’s about winning. Three points is vital.”