Carlisle shocked Championship side Barnsley with three goals without reply to put them into the next round of the Carabao Cup.

Goals from new signing trio Harry McKirdy, Jack Bridge and Nathan Thomas made it a memorable night in South Yorkshire, as they became the first side to conquer Oakwell since Daniel Stendel took over, while also ending a 32-game unbeaten run.

Travelling manager Steven Pressley made two changes from the defeat at Swindon Town on Saturday, bringing in Australian left back Jack Iredale and 6ft 4in Leicester City loan striker Ryan Loft – both of whom impressed – for Jon Mellish and Olofela Olomola.

German boss Stendel suffered the same outcome in a Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough at the weekend and named a strong side, although playmaker Alex Mowatt was injured with a pulled muscle.

Despite the Tykes dominating early possession in high areas, the Cumbrians’ press was too much to handle in the opening exchanges as the sun went down.

Barnsley debutant goalkeeper Bradley Collins had saved well from Ryan Loft and McKirdy minutes before, but failed to win the ball when McKirdy chased a loose pass.

Finnish defender Aapo Halme left it, and McKirdy was first there to slot into an empty net to break the deadlock.

Carlisle were then immediately under siege, forcing Adam Collin into a tall save, as the skipper tipped over Conor Chaplin’s effort from close range.

The hosts had most of the joy until the break, and Chaplin somehow failed to equalise in dramatic fashion.

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McKirdy’s own back-pass went straight to the man in red and the forward rounded Collin, but was crowded-out by Blues centre backs Nathaniel Knight-Percival and Byron Webster as the interval soon arrived.

HALF-TIME: 1-0

There was a fear that the home side would come out of the blocks firing and take the game by the scruff of the neck; although, the away team had something to say about that.

No real opportunities came about, as Oakwell tensed-up for 13 minutes before the next goal arrived.

Iredale, who got the better of Mallik Wilks all night, did well down the left, and set-up McKirdy to come again break away with electric pace.

The winger was soon pulled down by Danish defender Mads Juel Anderson for a penalty before Thomas put the ball into the back of net once referee Ben Toner has blown his whistle.

Bridge stepped up and calmly sent Collins the wrong way, to send a nervous North Stand into pandemonium with almost an hour player.

Five minutes later, it was three. Thomas instinctively drove into the back of the net on the counter attack, prompting a slight exodus at Oakwell, as the closing stages loomed.

Collin was never truly tested as Carlisle remained imperious for a first clean sheet of the season, while fellow stoppper Collins continued his debut frustrations, with Barnsley’s defensive allowing chance after chances to come at him.

The 22-year-old Chelsea academy graduate was peppered with shots but was valiant in his efforts to save his teammates from further embarrassment, and likely proved to be one of the few Stendel could be pleased with on the night.

Late on, Olomola entered the fray to cause havoc, along with the returning Hallam Hope and centre-back-turned-striker Aaron Hayden, who all knocked on the door in hope of beating Collins again.

Stefan Scougall went closest hitting the post, but three goals was enough for an overwhelming win.

The full-time whistle blew to an eruption of Cumbrian cheers, as they made it 45 years without defeat to the Tykes.

Pressley described his men as ‘amazing,’ and his ‘bang on’ pressing game certainly worked a treat throughout the vast majority of the 90 minutes – making the most of their 28% possession.

Carlisle were by far the stronger side on the night, better in every department than Barnsley, who struggled to get into first gear at Oakwell.

The winners travel again in Round Two, facing Rochdale at Spotland.

Attendance: 5,208

Home star man: Bradley Collins

Away star man: Harry McKirdy

Referee: Ben Toner

words Nathan Ridley, D3D4 Carlisle United correspondent