KEITH Curle thought Oxford United were fortunate to get away without conceding a penalty at a crucial moment in their 2-0 win at Carlisle United.

With the score at 1-0 and the home side on top, Danny Grainger’s cross was blocked by Jonjoe Kenny.

While it was hard to argue it was deliberate, the ball struck the young full back’s arm and for a moment the U’s thought they were going to be punished.

Instead referee Phil Gibbs awarded a corner and within two minutes Liam Sercombe had made the points safe with the second goal.

Curle, Carlisle’s boss, said: “The game did swing on the penalty appeal we had because I think it was a definite penalty.

“The cross from Danny was stopped by an arm or a hand which was above shoulder height and away from his body.

“That has to be a penalty from my point of view, but I am obviously slightly biased.”

Carlisle’s play-off hopes had already ended, but Curle felt there was little between the sides, who are separated by 19 points in the Sky Bet League Two table.

He said: “Oxford are a yardstick, they're in the promotion places, but I don't think they came here and outplayed us.

“They were more clinical than we were and they got the rub of the green with the penalty, but apart from that they had one shot on target in the second half and scored.”