Rovers slipped to a second straight away defeat in Sky Bet League Two as they were comfortably beaten at Carlisle United.

A Jack Stretton brace and a Callum Guy strike saw the hosts through to a 3-0 triumph, with Rovers struggling to muster real attacking threat throughout.

It could have been a wider margin, with Jonathan Mitchell saving a stoppage time penalty from Ryan Edmondson.

Carlisle, who have lost just once in the league so far this season, looked in control throughout, with Rovers finding little joy in attempts to breach their back line.

Gary McSheffrey made four changes to the side that started the previous league game against Leyton Orient. Max Woltman was handed his first start for the club with Tom Anderson and George Miller both returning from injury, while Adam Long also came into the side.

It took a while for the two sides to settle into the game, with a long range strike from Harrison Biggins the first real opportunity for Rovers.

The hosts sought to test Mitchell early, and Jack Stretton drew a good stop from the Rovers keeper after drifting across the box and drilling towards the near post.

Carlisle began to enjoy the better of proceedings and Edmondson looked to catch Mitchell out after he came out of his box to head clear, but the ball dropped harmlessly wide.

Marauding Carlisle defender Jon Mellish fired over the bar after latching onto the ball in space on the edge of the area.

Rovers’ best opportunity came just after the midpoint of the half. Ben Close sent Kyle Knoyle racing down the right before darting into the area to meet the full back’s cross only to see his first-time strike batted away by Carlisle keeper Tomas Holy.

It was the turn of Mitchell to produce the goalkeeping heroics moments later. He pushed a header from Owen Moxon onto the bar and scooped the ball off his line before Ro-Shaun Williams blocked Mellish’s follow-up.

And from the subsequent corner, he pushed away a low drive from Jack Armer which travelled through a crowded box.

The hosts took the lead a minute before the break. Guy collected the ball 25 yards out and powered a shot into the far bottom corner.

Carlisle extended their advantage nine minutes into the second half.

Mitchell did well to push away a driven cross by Mellish while Harrison Biggins bravely threw himself in front of Jordan Gibson’s follow-up, but Gibson struck again with the ball spinning home off Stretton.

McSheffrey sent on Kieran Agard and Kyle Hurst in a bid to spark a recovery from Rovers.

And they were quickly on the front foot when Hurst was played into the box with a well-weighted pass from Close only for the Carlisle defence to hack the ball clear as it was squared.

But Carlisle would move further ahead on 67 minutes. Stretton was sent racing clear down the right before cutting inside and powering a low strike into the far corner.

It took real bravery from Ro-Shaun Williams who threw his head in front of a goalbound shot from Owen Moxon to prevent the hosts from grabbing a fourth.

And Gibson was close to netting moments later when firing across goal, only to see his effort flash wide of the far post.

Though the game petered out, there was still time for late drama in stoppage time as Carlisle were awarded a penalty when Long brought down substitute Jayden Harris.

But Mitchell got down superbly to keep Edmondson's spot kick out.

Carlisle: Holy, Whelan (Feeney 88), Huntington, Mellish, Ellis, Guy, Moxon, Armer, Gibson (Charters 90), Edmondson, Stretton (Harris 79). Sub not used: Kelly, Barclay, Bollado, Idehen.

Rovers: Mitchell, Williams, Anderson, Long, Knoyle, Biggins (Hurst 62), Clayton, Close, Molyneux (Taylor 69), Woltman (Agard 62), Miller. Subs not used: Bottomley, Faulkner, Maxwell, Seaman.