Carlisle United boss Keith Curle admitted his patched-up side were “toothless” as they missed their chance to jump into the play-off places.

Curle was without a host of senior players as United went down 2-0 to Bristol Rovers.

The defeat at the Memorial Stadium saw Carlisle remain ninth and outside League Two’s top seven on goal difference.

And Curle insisted that the late loss of some of his most influential players had cost the Blues.

He was without Danny Grainger and Hallam Hope through injury, while Jason Kennedy was ruled out through illness.

They joined the suspended Michael Raynes and Luke Joyce on the sidelines, with Alex Gilliead also unavailable.

Curle said: “I was disappointed that we were a bit toothless in our forward play.

“We had six or seven recent starters out of the game, and I thought that made us a bit disjointed, as it would any team in this division.

“Also, I don’t think we did the horrible side of the game well enough. I thought Bristol Rovers won the midfield battle.

“They came out on top, won too many second balls for my liking with ease and were able to dictate the pace of the game with ease in midfield.”

Matty Taylor’s double cost Carlisle, who were unable to find a way back despite the return as a second-half substitute of top scorer Jabo Ibehre.

The big striker came on after an hour and could now be in the frame to start against Portsmouth next weekend.

Curle was critical of United’s supply to Ibehre and their other frontmen against the Pirates.

“I thought we had enough set-plays,” he said. “We didn’t look as if we’d been working on them, but we do.

“Sometimes you can have a lack of commitment from our set-plays, and that was disappointing. We had the chance to put the ball in good areas but chose different decisions and options.

“It comes from some players wanting to do the right thing, but rather than put the ball exactly where it’s got to be, they put the ball into a hopeful area.

“We want to be better at our execution, because set-plays can win you games.”

Bury loan striker Hope, who is wanted for a longer loan by Curle, will be further assessed after he pulled out of training on Thursday with an ankle problem.

The United boss added: “To his credit, he tried, did a fitness test and got through a percentage of it, but wasn’t able to twist and turn at maximum.

“We say to players that when you play, you need to be at maximum, and we don’t want any excuses.

“Jason Kennedy travelled but he then felt under the weather and wasn’t 100 per cent. We missed Jason, as we did the other players missing.

“Others came in, and they understood their roles and responsibilities, but would have wanted more from their individual performances.”

The Blues boss handed recalls to Tom Miller, Alex McQueen, Angelo Balanta, Joe Thompson, Patrick Brough and Mark Gillespie.

Curle added that his decision to recall keeper Gillespie ahead of Dan Hanford had been a “very close” call.

He said: “I spoke to both of them on Thursday. Dan wasn’t happy and rightly so, because he came in [against Plymouth] and did what was asked.

“I thought it was the right time to bring Mark back into it. I’m paid to make decisions.”