Mansfield Town 1 Carlisle United 0: Stephen McLaughlin's early goal for Mansfield sent struggling Carlisle United to another defeat.

The left-back was allowed a free header as he put away Elliott Hewitt's cross after just six minutes.

And that proved enough against the Cumbrians, who hit the bar twice but saw their goals shortage go on at the One Call Stadium.

Jordan Gibson hit the woodwork in added time, after keeper Nathan Bishop had tipped a defensive header onto the bar in the first half.

Sub Sam Fishburn also came close but United once again came up short in front of goal as they remained third bottom in League Two - with just 13 goals from 20 games.

They also lost skipper Callum Guy to a groin injust midway through the second half.

In front of 133 travelling fans who braved Storm Barra, manager Keith Millen made two changes to the side that started Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Shrewsbury.

Jon Mellish, back from suspension, returned to the line-up while Gibson was also recalled, Corey Whelan starting at right-back in place of Kelvin Mellor, who dropped to the bench while Zach Clough, who was also subbed in Saturday's first half, missed out.

Keeper Magnus Norman returned from injury and was among the subs as United faced a Mansfield side also featuring two changes - Jordan Bowery and Harry Charsley promoted to the team by manager Clough.

And it took the hosts just six minutes to take the lead.

After working the ball well through midfield and to the right, it was laid off for Elliott Hewitt, whose deep cross found McLaughlin in acres of space, and he made no mistake in converting the free header.

It was a serious defensive malfunction from the Blues, who tried to fight back through Tristan Abrahams, who had a shot saved by Nathan Bishop after battling infield from the right.

Further good chances were scarce until the 26th minute, when Rod McDonald lost the ball deep in United territory and Charsley went through.

Mark Howard saved his shot, and McDonald then slid in to deny George Maris from the rebound.

Carlisle were short of chances and struggled to put together anything of note in a poor first half hour, but a tactical adjustment saw them eventually enjoy a spell of pressure.

They almost got a fortunate leveller when Brennan Dickenson, who Millen moved infield from the left wing, saw his corner met by Charsley, whose defensive header looped towards goal and was touched onto the crossbar by Bishop.

United threatened again when Brad Young pounced on a loose pass but after he was tackled, Abrahams failed to steer his shot past the home keeper.

The Blues finished the half in the ascendancy, Guy seeing a shot deflected wide and United forcing a series of corners, but the Cumbrians' familiar inability to score remained.

Mansfield lost defender Will Forrester to injury on 57 minutes, Farrend Rawson taking his place, and then Guy suffered a groin injury, the captain continuing after treatment but then being replaced by Mellor, Fishburn also coming off the bench for Abrahams.

A spell of Blues pressure saw them come close to an equaliser when Fishburn glanced a Dickenson cross towards goal, only to be denied his first senior goal by a goalline clearance.

Dickenson then sent a Mellor drive over the bar.

At the other end, Mansfield flashed a cross through the six-yard box to no avail, before Millen sent on Danny Devine for Young in United's final change and sent Mellish up front alongside Fishburn.

A late chance broke for Fishburn in the box at the start of five added minutes, but he was smothered by defenders - and then Gibson was agonisingly close to a dramatic equaliser when he hit the bar from outside the box.

Mansfield were anxious in protection of their lead, but the Blues could not find the goal they needed, remaining third bottom after the night's results in League Two.

Mansfield: Bishop, Hewitt, O’Toole, Forrester (Rawson 57), McLaughlin, Charsley, Stirk, Maris (Sinclair 86), Lapslie, Quinn, Bowery. Not used: Shelvey, Nartey, Burke, Law, Gale.

Goal: McLaughlin 6.

Booked: O’Toole.

United: Howard, Whelan, Armer, McDonald, Feeney, Guy (Mellor 64), Mellish, Dickenson, Gibson, Abrahams (Fishburn 64), Young (Devine 78). Not used: Norman, Dinzeyi, Charters, Mampala.

Booked: Mellish.

Ref: Neil Hair.

Crowd: 3,695 (133 United fans)