Carlisle United 1 Bristol Rovers 0: Kristian Dennis's second-half goal kept up Carlisle United's remarkable resurgence - with a sixth win in seven under Paul Simpson.
The striker pounced in the 73rd minute to cap another display of huge tenacity and character by the Cumbrians against high-flying Bristol Rovers.
It was Dennis' first goal at Brunton Park and was enough to see off Joey Barton's Pirates at United's sun-kissed home ground.
It means 18 points from a possible 21 since Simpson's return - with United surely now as good as safe.
They are 15 points clear of the drop zone with eight games remaining.
And they earned their latest memorable win with a determined showing against fourth-placed Rovers.
Manager Simpson, with captain Callum Guy ruled out for the season, had brought Whelan back into the side.
Corey Whelan was also handed the armband in the only change to the side that started last weekend's victory at Barrow.
Bristol Rovers were without former United captain Nick Anderton, while Anthony Evans also missed out.
Barton brought Sam Nicholson and Glenn Whelan back into the Pirates' line-up, and the visitors started on the front foot.
They settled into their game the quickest, Nicholson putting a Harry Anderson cross wide before, at the other end, Connor Taylor did well to see off a dangerous Omari Patrick run.
Anderton saw a 25-yard shot deflected wide for Rovers before Carlisle carved out a great 13th minute chance.
It came after Dynel Smieu stepped out of defence and, after Joe Riley and Patrick combined, Riley picked out Brennan Dickenson with an excellent far-post cross, but his diving header was saved by James Belshaw.
Another Dickenson attempt was turned into the side-netting by Jordan Gibson.
Carlisle then saw a goal disallowed as an impressive Dennis finish was chalked off for offside, before Blues keeper Mark Howard kept out an Elliot Anderson drive.
A competitive spell followed which was short on chances, United giving as good as they got and eventually forcing the next opportunity on the half-hour, when Morgan Feeney's header from a Dickenson long throw fell for Gibson, but his volley was blocked.
Gibson put another attempt wide from 25 yards as Carlisle kept up the pressure, with Riley then volleying a Jack Armer cross into the side-netting.
Barton's side then could have opened the scoring on 36 minutes but Finley finished weakly at Howard after being put through to the left of goal.
The dangerous Elliot Anderson then threatened again, testing Howard with a powerful shot, the Newcastle loanee providing more moments of danger as the visitors finished the half the stronger.
Howard denied Finley with a flying save early in the second half, with United then applying pressure from set-pieces to no avail.
Nicholson ended a dangerous run with a poor shot for Rovers, while Carlisle opened the visitors up on the hour mark when Patrick fed Riley in space, but his cross for Dennis was intercepted.
Another opportunity broke for Dennis after a Dickenson aerial challenge, but Belshaw saved and was then fouled by Armer as the defender slid in for the rebound.
Barton was the first to make changes, sending on Harvey Saunders and Leon Clarke on 66 minutes after a spell when Carlisle had been on top.
Clarke poked a shot wide after a Rovers corner - but then Carlisle grabbed the lead.
Patrick was the architect with a brilliant run on the left, leaving Luca Hoole for dead on the byline, and when he picked out Gibson in space, his shot was blocked and Dennis swept in the rebound at the Warwick Road End.
It was his second goal in successive games.
Rovers almost got on terms a minute later, but Morgan Feeney headed James Connolly's header off the line.
Clarke had a volley blocked, before Whelan was replaced by Danny Devine for the closing stages.
Gibson fired a decent opportunity over for United, as Carlisle then survived a series of Rovers set-pieces.
Fit-again Kelvin Mellor replaced Mellish with five minutes remaining, with Rod McDonald also coming on for Riley.
Gibson again tested Belshaw on the break before Feeney and Gibson threw themselves in the way of a Rovers shot in eight added minutes.
United saw off the remaining threat, an Anderson cross deflected just out of sub Harvey Saunders' reach for the visitors at the death, and there were again noisy celebrations from the 5,884 crowd at full-time.
United: Howard, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish (Mellor 87), Riley (McDonald 87), Armer, C Whelan (Devine 79), Dickenson, Gibson, Patrick, Dennis. Not used: Norman, Alessandra, Sho-Silva, Omotoye.
Goal: Dennis 73
Booked: Dennis, Patrick, Armer, Dickenson.
Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Connolly, Taylor, Hoole, Nicholson (Saunders 66), Finley, G Whelan (L Clarke 66), Coutts (Thomas 83), E Anderson, H Anderson, Collins. Not used: Ward, T Clarke, Harries, Loft.
Booked: Taylor, Saunders.
Ref: Andy Haines.
Crowd: 5,884 (637).
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