Carlisle United 1 -3 Port Vale: Blues slide to fourth straight defeat as drop worries grow

Despite a goal from debutant Owen Windsor, the Blues were outplayed by play-off chasing Vale, who scored through David Worrall, James Wilson and ex-Blues man David Amoo.

It sent a much-changed United closer to the drop zone - as bottom two Oldham and Scunthorpe both won.

It means Keith Millen's struggling side are now just two points above the bottom two - and second-bottom Oldham have a game in hand.

The Blues seldom looked like overcoming Darrell Clarke's side and their display did little to play down fears of United sinking further into the mire.

Vale's opener finds the net after just 48 seconds

United boss Millen made seven changes to his starting line-up, handing debuts for Tobi Sho-Silva and Windsor in attack, plus recalls for Danny Devine, Joe Riley, Morgan Feeney, Tyrese Omotoye and Corey Whelan, who captained the side in Callum Guy's absence.

Three more new signings - Kristian Dennis, Jamie Devitt and Mitchell Roberts - were on the bench, while Jon Mellish and Brennan Dickenson were missing with knocks.

Port Vale boss Clarke made one change, Aaron Martin replaced by Kian Harratt, with Amoo among their subs.

Millen fielded Windsor on the right, with Sho-Silva and Omotoye teaming up in attack, but United's hopes of a positive start were curtailed inside the first minute as they conceded the opener.

Right-back Riley gave the ball away and when Wilson worked it to Worrall on the right, the winger's shot took a deflection on its way past Mark Howard after just 48 seconds.

Owen Windsor equalises for United

It was the worst possible opening for the Cumbrians, who looked edgy in the early stages against an experienced visiting side.

Omari Patrick tried to inject some purpose into their play, going close with a deflected shot after one bright run down the left, and linking with Jack Armer in other attacks.

But Vale had much more of the ball early on, Wilson testing Howard after Devine had given possession away in midfield.

Worrall saw another shot blocked - before United finally hit back.

Windsor celebrates

Their equaliser on 22 minutes was excellently worked, as Devine spread play to Armer, Patrick did well to feed Omotoye and the Norwich loanee got past his man before cutting the ball back, Windsor arriving from the right to drill home a composed low finish.

Their lead wiped out, Vale tried their luck with shots from Ryan Edmondson and Ben Garrity, while Windsor and Patrick remained on the front foot for Carlisle.

The visitors regained control of possession and further tested United out wide, Chris Hussey attacking a Worrall cross and seeing his free header flick wide off Feeney.

Wilson was then denied by Howard after the keeper's clearance had been intercepted by the Valiants on the right.

But Clarke's side were now back in command, dominating midfield and threatening in wide areas, and they regained the lead on 43 minutes.

Vale celebrate their second

Wilson's first attempt, having been picked out by Hussey's cross in space, was saved on the line by Howard, but the keeper couldn't hold the shot and Wilson was quickest to react to fire the loose ball home.

Nathan Smith almost added a third for Vale after the break before Millen sent on Devitt and Gibson on 56 minutes.

Gibson was denied when cutting in from the left but otherwise Carlisle failed miserably to create anything, and Kian Harratt was denied a Vale third by Howard.

Jamie Devitt came on in the second half

Amoo then came on for the visitors, who forced further chances on the break for Ryan Edmondson.

Dennis was handed his debut with 12 minutes to go, the striker replacing Windsor, but a Riley error eight minutes from time saw Amoo cut in to send a shot in off the post.

That capped a miserable night for Carlisle - as did Oldham's 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers and Scunthorpe's 1-0 victory agaist Walsall as things got tighter atthe bottom of League Two.

United: Howard, Riley, Armer, Simeu, Feeney, Whelan, Devine (Devitt 56), Patrick, Windsor (Dennis 78), Omotoye (Gibson 56), Sho-Silva. Not used: Norman, Alessandra, Fishburn, Roberts. 

Goal: Windsor 22 

Port Vale: Holy, Walker, Hussey, Hall, Smith, Garrity, Worrall, Pett, Harratt (Amoo 68), Edmondson, Wilson (Charsley 90). Not used: Stone, Jones, Hurst, Robinson, Cooper. 

Goals: Worrall 1, Wilson 43, Amoo 81. 

Ref: Andrew Kitchen. 

Crowd: 3,379 (240 Port Vale fans)