Carlisle United's manager's double celebration - FA Cup win after becoming a grandad!

A memorable week for the Simpson family saw his son Jake and partner Alice welcome baby Lottie into the world on Tuesday.

And four days later Simmo was smiling again as his Carlisle team beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 to progress to the second round of the cup.

United’s 56-year-old manager beamed: “It’s been a brilliant week.

“I know I look far too young to be a grandad but I am so chuffed.

“When things like that happen football has to take second place, but the football head was back on [yesterday] and thankfully we got a win.

READ MORE: Big match verdict on Carlisle's FA Cup win over Tranmere

“It’s been an absolutely brilliant week for our family. The whole week’s been a blur.

“I’ve been really lucky we’re only round the corner so we’ve been able to see her every day…and I suppose Jake and Alice, too but it’s more about Lottie at the moment, to be honest!

“I know Jake had a torrid night [of sleep] on Friday night but I just said, ‘Welcome to fatherhood and get used to i!’. It carries on for about the next 30-odd years…”

Simpson, meanwhile, was delighted with the character United showed to get past Tranmere and into Monday night’s second round draw.

Jordan Gibson celebrates his goal (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Goals from Jordan Gibson and Jayden Harris secured victory at Brunton Park in front of a 4,154 crowd.

It also earned £41,000 prize money for the Cumbrians on a day United again overcame injuries to enjoy a positive afternoon.

“I can’t ask any more of the players – they’ve been absolutely brilliant,” said Simpson.

“The lads who’ve come into the side…look at Jack Ellis getting an opportunity because of Fin Back being ill, look at Taylor Charters coming in because of a suspension. Tobi Sho-Silva coming in because of everything that’s going on…

“But they’ve all come in, rolled their sleeves up and showed me, showed us, that they’re all pulling in the same direction and all want the same things.”

Gibson’s second of the season put United in front and, after ex-Blues man Dynel Simeu had a goal disallowed for Tranmere, sub Harris got his first goal for the club.

Neill Byrne pulled one back late on for the visitors but Carlisle held on to record back-to-back wins over Micky Mellon’s side on successive weekends.

United will be ball number 14 in Monday’s draw.

“We just found a way and that’s what you have to do in cup competitions,” added Simpson.

“It got a bit scary towards the end, because we invited pressure on a little bit and we gave it away too cheaply in the last ten minutes or so.

“But you’ve got to say credit to the players for the way they worked to get on top in the game.

“My final message to them before the game was to make sure we were in the hat for the next round. I told them to find a way, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.

Jayden Harris, right, was United's matchwinner with his first goal for the club (Image: Ben Holmes)

“Winning games of football is a really nice habit to have. That’s two on the spin, and I want it to be three on the bounce now. I want to go to Harrogate [on Tuesday] and see us put on a proper performance.”

Simpson gave striker Sho-Silva his first start of the season in the absence to injury of Kristian Dennis and Jack Stretton.

The big frontman worked tirelessly before going off after an hour.

READ MORE: Watch Carlisle fans salute victory over Tranmere

United used Taylor Charters as a central striker for a period of the game before teenager Nic Bollado came on in the second half.

Simpson said the adjustments were tribute to the flexibility in his injury-hit squad.

“This is the good thing about this group, they are showing an adaptability to turn their hand to another role, or changing during games,” he added.

“That’s what having a good mentality about them is all about.

Tobi Sho-Silva led United's line well on his first start of the season (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“Nobody looks at me and says, ‘Are you winding me up, asking me to go there?’ I spoke to Taylor at half-time and said, ‘I’m gonna have to change this in ten or 15 minutes, I’ve asked Tobi to run himself into the ground and I’m gonna have to put you up front’.

“He just looked at me and said, ‘Not a problem’. And then we changed the shape and put Jordan alongside him to try and get the extra man and legs in midfield.

“It was enough to see us through. We could have made it easier for ourselves but maybe that’s a bit disrespectful to Tranmere. I thought they had a right good go at the end, as you would, because the game was going away from them.

“But thankfully we showed enough character to be able to see it through to the end.”

United are now just one game from the potentially lucrative third round.

On Monday’s draw, Simpson said: “I’d like a home tie, I’d like a rubbish team that we can get through.

“This isn’t me being clever, but I’m not expecting us to go and win the FA Cup final; I won’t be ordering a cup final suit.

“But I want to get as far as I can. I want money coming into this football club to help us, to make us stronger, to give us a strong financial footing.

“As it stands the FA Cup is the best route for us. Let’s get as far as we can, do everything we possibly can to get through to the next round.”