Cumbrians ease Abbott's fears

Carlisle eased the pressure on manager Greg Abbott with a comfortable 3-0 win against League One bottom club Hartlepool on Boxing Day.

An own goal by Sam Collins and Matty Robson's effort gave Carlisle an interval lead at Brunton Park and Lee Miller added the third to give Carlisle just their third home win of the season and leave Pools boss John Hughes still seeking his first victory since he took over in mid-November. Carlisle survived an early scare when Pools' Jonathan Franks glanced a shot off the top of the crossbar from just outside the box. But it was ex-Hartlepool winger Robson who was instrumental in Carlisle taking a 20th-minute lead. His left-footed shot from 25 yards struck defender Collins on the back and completely deceived goalkeeper Scott Flinders as it flew in just inside his left-hand post. Carlisle defender Mike Edwards cleared a towering header from Steve Howard off the goalline before Robson made it 2-0 to the Cumbrians in the 27th minute with a simple finish from inside the six-yard box after Flinders had failed to clear Jon-Paul McGovern's corner to spark a defensive scramble. Carlisle gave the Pools' goal a peppering after half-time, but the visitors hit back with their best spell with Andy Monkhouse and Howard both going close. But Robson was a constant threat and his run and cross enabled Miller to nod home his first goal of the season at the far post for Carlisle's third goal in the 74th minute. It was only Miller's third appearance of an injury-ravaged campaign.