JAMES Collins was at the double as the Blues were defeated by Derby County 0-2 at Brunton Park.

Paul Simpson's side took on the Rams in front of the American Piatak family who are in advanced takeover discussion with the club and are set to lay out their plans for the club at a CUOSC members' meeting on Sunday.

In an attempt to earn Carlisle's second League One win of the campaign, Simpson made no changes to the side that drew with Lincoln last time out.

After a conservative start from both sides, it was the visitors who had the first chance when James Collins was released inside the 18-yard box. 

The Derby forward shaped to shoot low and hard but Sam Lavelle slid to the rescue and blocked the effort.

After their bright start, the visitors got their reward on 19 minutes when Mendez-Laing and Jame Collins combined, with the latter handing the Rams the lead.

After the goal, there was a flurry of incidents and chances, with Collins firing over, Mendez-Laing having a penalty appeal waved away and the Blues having a flurry of corners that could not make it over the defender on the front post.

On 27 minutes Carlisle had a huge chance to level when Gibson's swerving strike was deflected off Rams keeper Wildsmith onto the crossbar.

Despite conceding early, the Blues maintained composure and crafted a few useful chances for themselves, but just lacked the killer edge.

As the first half drew to a close it was the Blues who were the livelier side with Gibson again going close with an effort from the right which narrowly whizzed past the far post before Plange would hit the post with a curling strike on the stroke of the break.

However, at the break, it was the visitors that had the lead.

In contrast to the hectic end of the first half, the second 45 began with both sides trading possession, with the Blues winning a couple of harmless corners for their trouble.

This relatively tranquil start to the second half would last until the 61st minute where Derby almost doubled their lead.

Sibley delivered a deep corner which left an advanced Andresson stranded but Cashin's back post header was into the side netting.

Carlisle struggled in the second half to create the calibre of chance that they had at the end of the first half with this symbolised by a Moxon shot in the 83rd minute which did not trouble Wildsmith.

Derby would ensure victory in the 84th minute. when Collins converted a penalty he had won after being taken down in the box by an advancing Andresson.

Collins almost had his hattrick with the last meaningful passage of play of the game, with a left-footed effort that just sailed past the top left counter with the game concluding with the visitors as two-nil victors.

Carlisle United: Jokull Andresson, Fin Back, Jack Armer (Jack Robinson - 77') Owen Moxon, Sam Lavelle, Paul Huntington, Jordan Gibson, Callum Guy, Jon Mellish (Joe Garner - 68'), Sean Maguire (Ryan Edmondson - 77'), Luke Plange (Terry Ablade - 68')

Subs: Tomas Holy, Alfie McCalmont, Corey Whelan

Derby County: Joe Wildsmith, Craig Forsyth, Eiran Cashin, James Collins, Martyn Waghorn (Kane Wilson - 61'), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Conor Washington - 80'), Korey Smith, Louie Sibley (Tom Barkhuizen -77'), Tyrese Fornah, Ryan Nyambe, Curtis Nelson

Subs: Scott Loach, Sonny Bradley, Callum Elder, Darren Robinson