Blackpool crashed out of the LDV Vans Trophy in midweek as Simon Grayson's introduction to football management began to get tougher.

Grayson also saw his side go down 3-2 at Colchester at the weekend, a result which saw them slip back into the relegation zone as the euphoria of the 5-2 victory over Scunthorpe began to wear off.

Blackpool, missing influential skipper, Peter Clarke but with midfielder, Ciaran Donnelly, returning after injury and Keigan Parker available again on the bench after suspension, the side Blackpool put out was far from weak.

After a dull first half, the Seasiders went ahead through a towering header from Tommy Wright.

But, within a minute, Carlisle had broken down the other end and scored through prolific striker, Karl Hawley.

And it got even worse for Grayson three minutes later when Derek Holmes put Carlisle ahead and the league two high-fliers were on course for victory.

Grayson threw on the ever-lively Keigan Parker and Simon Wiles in the closing stages in a bid to chase an equaliser that ultimately, never came.

Clarke, fortunately, is back for Saturday's tough away clash with shock promotion contenders, Chesterfield.

The competitive defender will, however, have to cope without a string of suspended colleagues, including midfielders, John Doolan and Keith Southern, as well as Tommy Wright.

That trio saw yellow cards in Saturday's hard-fought defeat at Colchester, a game in which giant striker, Chris Iwulemo, gave the Seasiders no end of problems.

Iwulemo looked to have shoved Clarke out of the way on his way to converting Kevin Watson's cross and was also somewhat fortunate to win the second half penalty through which he put his side 2-0 up - Peter Clarke's challenge didn't appear to make contact. The Seasiders were back in the match when an Ian Morris cross was headed home by John Murphy on 68 minutes and were pressing for an equaliser when a lapse in concentration allowed Greg Halford to get away down the right and add a third.

But Tommy Wright made the scoreline a little more respectable, getting behind the defence in injury time and firing home a deflected shot.