Roddy Collins had a headache with selection but he surprisingly chose to start with only one striker in Steve Halliday. Captain Stuart Whitehead (pictured), back after injury, was drafted into midfield in what looked an ultra-defensive line-up.

For 10 minutes at least, it seemed to be working. Argyle were bright and inventive but Carlisle held firm and looked relatively solid. Martin Phillips shot wide after 6 minutes and four minutes later Keen was alert to collect a Hodges back-header. However it didn't last.

Argyle turned the screw and started to apply pressure. Michael Evans had already seen one shot screw wide when he put the home team ahead in the 17th minute. David Friio lost control on the edge of the box and there was a claim for a foul on Tony Hopper but the ball came out to Evans who drove in past Keen. United's problems started to mount. Steve Soley was booked a minute after the goal. Peter Murphy had Carlisle's only real shot of the half after 22 minutes. Jason Bent tested Keen again, and the keeper made an excellent follow-up save from top scorer Friio. Collins made a tactical switch, taking off Murphy and bringing on Jonny Allan as he made a change back to 4-4-2.

Discipline was going all over the park. A clash in midfield left an Argyle man holding his head and Whitehead went into the book. Phillips again brought a save out of Keen. Then on 33 minutes Friio was clean through and Soley brought him down. Soley was ordered off and in the melee that followed, both Halliday and Birch became involved with Friio. Luckily there were no further sendings off. However Birch did go into the book a few minutes later and Collins moved rapidly to get him off the park for his own protection, throwing on Dave Morley as United rocked and rolled.

Phillips' long-range shooting was still causing problems. He cut inside following a good tackle by Bent and shot just wide from fully 25 yards out. On the stroke of half-time the Cumbrians had a big let-off when Graham Coughlan missed an easy chance after Hodges headed across goal. United's luck couldn't last though and three minutes into stoppage time a corner wasn't cleared and Bent drove home from 20 yards.

The second half was nothing more than damage limitation. Coughlan saw a firm header saved after 50 minutes. After 53, Friio closed down Keen as he tried to kick clear and the deflection took the ball perilously close to the net. Argyle should have extended their lead in the 58th minute but he missed a sitter from six yards out as he shinned the ball into the ground to present Keen with an easy save. It appeared to be 3-0 after 65 minutes but the unlucky Coughlan, who got up the far post above Winstanley to head into the net, was adjudged to be offside.

United's goal was leading a charmed life. Coughland missed another easy chance just two minutes later. Carlisle were so comprehensively out of the game that maybe the Argyle players lost concentration. The chances were raining in on the visitors' goal. United at least kept their heads up and avoided any more cautions as substitute Allan half-volleyed over from 10 yards out. Plymouth were coasting and brought on all three subs as the home crowd of 5,870 thundered their approval.

Ian Stonebridge hoofed over the bar when another goal beckoned and for a time it seemed the Cumbrians would "escape" with a mere 2-0 defeat. It was not to be though. Three minutes from time the excellent Phillips got the goal he deserved when a low corner was flicked on to him and he forced the ball home from a yard out.

Al's Verdict : Only one team was going to win this one. We contributed yet again to our own demise with another sending off and our discipline in general went to pieces. There was nothing to offer up front with Foran out and Mr Collins choosing to humiliate Stevo by not bringing him on again despite having him on the bench. This unprofessional display by the boss is frankly beyond my comprehension. If he doesn't want to pick this man, why even bother putting him on the coach down? We have become a shambles and at any other club Collins would be sacked or asked to resign. If we lose to Barnet, the man should do the honourable thing and walk away, as he always said he would. We can't afford to leave it any longer. There are experienced men out there who could come in and keep us in the league. I seriously doubt now that Collins can.